Date Rape

Definition

Date rape refers to forced sexual intercourse without consent that is perpetrated by someone familiar to the victim, usually an acquaintance or date. Although date rape can be perpetrated by women, the typical date rape occurs when a man uses physical or psychological intimidation to force a woman to have intercourse against her will. Date rape also occurs when men have sex with women who have been incapacitated with alcohol or drugs and thus unable to consent to sex. Many social psychological factors influence how date rape is defined, perceived, and experienced by victims and perpetrators. These factors include stereotypes, scripts, gender roles, and elements of the sexual situation.

Stereotypes of rape lead many people to believe that rape occurs when a woman is attacked by a stranger in a dark, secluded street. In fact, the vast majority of rapes are committed against women by men they know, including former lovers, current boyfriends or spouses, friends, and acquaintances. The typical date rape occurs after a man and woman have had several dates. The couple has previously engaged in some level of consensual activity like heavy petting or oral sex. The man wants to continue, but the woman refuses. Most men stop at this point, but date rape occurs when the man forces the woman into sex despite her rejection.

Why Does Date Rape Occur?

Theories to explain rape have focused on whether rape is sexually motivated or motivated by the male goals to exert power over women. Early views emphasizing sex often blamed rape victims for tempting men with their style of dress or behaviors. Rapists could not control their sexual desire in the face of such temptation. This view was challenged in the 1970s by feminist theories. Feminists proposed that most or all men are socialized by culture to rape, and that all men support and encourage rape because rape functions to instill fear in women. According to feminist theory, rape is one way that men can keep women in less powerful positions in society. The feminist view of rape can be credited for helping to dispel the victimblaming of earlier theories, though it does not have much supporting evidence itself. Today, many psychologists believe that date rape results from a combination of personality and situational factors. These factors consider the background and personality of rapists as well as social-psychological factors related to the situation.

Factors Related to Rapists

Date rapists tend to explain their motives in terms of sex rather than power. They report having more sexual partners and sexual activity than other men. Date rapists prefer not to use force to get sex, but they will use force or intimidation if necessary. Risk factors for rapists include backgrounds with violent home life, delinquency, and macho peer groups that encourage sexual promiscuity and conquest. Date rapists also identify with exaggerated masculine gender roles. For example, they may endorse views that equate masculinity with hostility toward women and femininity, sexual conquest, and acting macho. Date rapists are egocentric and lack empathy toward their victims. They may justify their [Page 218]actions by blaming their victims for being a tease or wasting their time and money on the date. Many date rapists do not interpret their actions as rape. The common belief that their victim actually enjoyed the rape is a sign of the rapist's distorted perceptions and lack of empathy for their victims.

...