After defining the difference between "rape" and "sexual assault," this paper identifies the factors associated with sexual victimization and suggests strategies for preventing it, particularly among college-age youth.
"Rape" has traditionally been defined as "the forced penetration of a woman by a male assailant." Most State laws, however, have abandoned this narrow definition of a sex offense in favor of the more gender-neutral and broader term "sexual assault." This refers to "any genital, oral, or anal penetration by a part of the perpetrator's body or by an object, using force or without the victim's consent" (AMA, 1995). This paper discusses the characteristics of child sexual abuse, acquaintance rape, incest, statutory rape, and date rape. This is followed by a discussion of the prevalence of the reporting of rape and sexual assault and gender difference in sexual coercion. Also discussed are rape-tolerance attitudes, particularly among college males, and the role of alcohol in sex offenses. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of rape prevention. The summary conclusion then identifies the following factors as associated with sexual victimization: younger age, being active in social functions, the victim's history of sexual abuse or victimization, dating at an early age, extensive sexual experience, and alcohol use. Further, sexist attitudes may contribute to a tolerance of rape and an acceptance by women of the use of male force in relationships. Suggestions for rape prevention are the raising of awareness about the sexual rights of women and the prevalence of date rape, social-skills training, assertiveness training for women, and changing attitudes that are conducive to coerced sex. 80 references