Date rape

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This article is written for women and assumes a male offender, however SECASA acknowledges that both men and women can be survivors of sexual abuse and that offenders can be male and female.

'Date rape' is an experience of which young women should be especially aware. Prevention of rape IS NOT the responsibility of women. Statistics show most women and children are sexually assaulted by a person who is known to them. On dates, young women can feel great pressure to have sex when they don't want to.

In the United States, 'Ms', a women's magazine, carried out a large survey across 32 college campuses on the incidence of date rape. The results were startling:

• One in four female respondents had had an experience that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape.
• 85 per cent of those raped knew the attacker.
• 57 per cent of the assaults happened on dates.
• Most of the rapes did not happen on the college campus, but in either the victim's, or the perpetrator's, home or car.
• Only 27 per cent of the women whose sexual assault met the legal definition of rape thought of themselves as rape victims.

Many young women who are raped on dates have had little experience of sexual intercourse prior to the attack.

One objective of the 'Ms' study was to find out the extent of date rape. Another was to study the crime in order to see how young women could avoid becoming victims of it themselves.

The study revealed the situations in which young women were especially vulnerable to attack. The advice which flows from this knowledge include that young women should know that they have the right to set sexual limits and should clearly communicate those limits.

• Be mindful of safety issues and vulnerability due to party drugs/alcohol.
• Be assertive.
• Trust their feelings - one victim's advice is that 'You have to learn to trust that little voice. Instead of giving him the benefit of the doubt, get out ... of the situation' [Paitia, p. 156].
• Stay in control of the situation, by paying their own way so that the date can't be interpreted as you 'owing' him something.
• Never travel home alone on public transport/taxis. Always book a taxi, never hail a cab.

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Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 27 May 2009