Date Rape

Date rape is a term used largely in industrialized countries to describe what a victim experiences when he or she is forced or coerced into unwanted sexual activity by a friend, romantic suitor, or peer through violence, verbal pressure, misuse of authority, or threat of violence. While some prefer the more inclusive term acquaintance rape, which does not imply any sort of romantic relationship between the rapist and the victim, both terms acknowledge the fact that the majority of women (and men) who are raped know their attackers, and that the victim did not consent to sexual activity.

Both terms were originally introduced into public health parlance in the 1980s in an attempt to dispel the myth that the majority of rapes occurred due to random attacks by strangers, and to give voice to sexual experiences many women believed had been nonconsensual, but were not criminal in nature as they occurred in the context of a romantic relationship. Advocates for the rights of rape victims emphasized the concept of date rape to promote awareness that all sexual activity requires explicit consent from both parties; a new, prior, [Page 473]or ongoing dating or intimate relationship does not necessarily imply that either party has a ‘“right” to sexual relations. This new awareness of date rape has led to legal changes in the United States that make it easier for victims to prosecute attackers, although much discussion remains about the legal standards of consent.

A recent concern is the use of “date rape drugs” such as rohypnol, which can be slipped into alcoholic or other drinks.

While it is hard to determine the rates of date rape in the United States, even less is known regarding rates of date rape worldwide, especially in cultures where dating and premarital romantic and sexual relationships either do not occur, or in very different contexts. The related concept of marital rape has recently been utilized in developing countries to describe unwanted sexual contact by a spouse, particularly in regards to increasing women's sexual rights as a means of preventing HIV infection.

A recent concern, particularly among young people, is the use of “date rape drugs” such as rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine, which can be slipped into alcoholic or other drinks when a victim is not looking. These drugs are odorless, colorless, and produce paralysis, blackouts, and memory loss, making victims vulnerable to attackers. Intoxication due to alcohol or other drugs is often associated with date rape.