NCJ Number
58838
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
DEVELOPED AS PART OF A RAPE PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR TEENAGERS, THIS FILM DEPICTS THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN TWO YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE END OF THEIR SECOND DATE WHICH LEADS TO SEXUAL ASSAULT.
Abstract
THIS VIGNETTE ILLUSTRATES THE BEHAVIOR PATTERNS AND SEX ROLES THAT EQUATE MASCULINITY WITH AGGRESSIVENESS AND FEMININITY WITH SUBMISSIVENESS, ROLES WHICH CAN LIMIT THE PERCEPTIONS OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AND PREVENT THEM FROM FULLY EXPRESSING THEMSELVES. THE TEENAGE WOMAN HAS BEEN DATING A MAN SEVERAL YEARS HER SENIOR. AFTER SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO ENTERTAIN HER AND UPON HEARING THAT HER PARENTS ARE NOT AT HOME, THE MAN WANTS SEX IN RETURN. BECAUSE THE YOUNG WOMAN MISUNDERSTANDS HIM AND CONTINUES TO LIVE OUT A FANTASY OF THE PERFECT EVENING, THE DATE ENDS IN A VIOLENT CONFRONTATION LEADING TO A TYPE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CALLED ACQUAINTANCE RAPE. A DISCUSSION GUIDE HAS BEEN INCLUDED TO HELP TEENAGERS UNDERSTAND THE DESTRUCTIVE AND VIOLENT POSSIBILITIES INHERENT IN RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON INEQUALITY OF POWER. BY KNOWING WHAT SHE WANTS FROM A DATE AND BY MAKING HER DESIRES CLEAR AND SPECIFIC BEFOREHAND, A YOUNG WOMAN LEARNS TO ASSERT HERSELF AND TO REJECT STEREOTYPIC NOTIONS OF HOW SHE SHOULD BEHAVE. (WJR)