NCJ Number
58513
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
MISCONCEPTIONS REGARDING RAPE, FREQUENCY, HOW TO RECOGNIZE A RAPIST, RAPE PREVENTION MEASURES, AND SUPPORTIVE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN WITH THE VICTIM OF RAPE ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS BROCHURE.
Abstract
RAPE IS THE ACT OF SEXUAL INTERCOURSE COMMITTED BY A MAN AGAINST ANOTHER PERSON WITHOUT HIS OR HER CONSENT. RAPE CAN OCCUR BETWEEN STRANGERS, ACQUAINTANCES, AND FRIENDS. SEVERAL MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT RAPE PERSIST DESPITE CONVINCING EVIDENCE. FIRST, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE PRIMARY MOTIVE FOR RAPE IS AGGRESSION AND NOT SEX. SECOND THE RAPIST IS A DESPICABLE CRIMINAL, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IS NOT A SIGN OF MASCULINITY. THIRD, BECOMING A VICTIM IS NOT RELATED TO A PERSON'S DRESS OR 'PROVOCATIVE' MANNER. FOURTH, A WOMAN'S HEALTH, SIZE, OR STRENGTH HAVE LITTLE BEARING ON RAPE PREVENTION ALTHOUGH PREPAREDNESS CAN HELP OVERCOME THE PARALYZING EFFECTS OF TERROR. FIFTH, MOST RAPE VICTIMS HAVE GOOD REPUTATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. SIXTH, WOMEN DO NOT ENJOY RAPE. IN THE UNITED STATES, A RAPE CASE IS REPORTED EVERY 2 MINUTES. THE FBI ESTIMATES THAT 80 TO 90 PERCENT OF ALL RAPES GO UNREPORTED. THE TYPICAL RAPIST CAN BE ANY MAN, AND THERE IS NO WAY TO RECOGNIZE HIM BEFORE THE ATTACK. THE TYPICAL RAPE VICTIM BECOMES AFRAID OF BEING ALONE, OF CROWDS, OF MEN, AND OF ANTHING REMINDING HER OF THE RAPIST. SHE MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY RELATING TO OTHERS, EXPRESSING AFFECTION, AND REDEFINING HER SEXUALITY. SHE MAY HAVE FEELINGS OF ANGER, HELPLESSNESS, AND EMBARASSMENT. THOSE PERSONS CLOSEST TO THE VICTIM SHOULD BE SUPPORTIVE, LISTEN TO THE VICTIM, AND NOT PRY FOR DETAILS AND SPECIFICS. RAPE PREVENTION EFFORTS SHOULD FOCUS ON ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO TAKE THE THREAT OF RAPE SERIOUSLY, HELPING WOMEN REJECT SOCIAL CONDITIONING THAT PASSIVITY AND WEAKNESS ARE FEMININE, AND ASSISTING WOMEN IN IMPLEMENTING APPROPRIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. (LWM)