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Most studies involve heterosexual
contact and assume that women are the
victims and men are the perpetrators
of rape. Research on college students
yields oft-cited statistics supported
in many studies: Approximately
one in four women report having
experienced sexual aggression that
could be legally defined as rape
or the threat of rape. Only a small
percentage of these women see
themselves as rape victims. Other
research shows that approximately
one in ten men say they have engaged
in sexual aggression. These men do
not see themselves as rapists, even
though they describe circumstances
that are legally defined as rape.
The presence of an extreme rape
script interferes with victims’ and
perpetrators’ understanding of rape.
Victims of unacknowledged rape
— mostly acquaintance rape — show
the same physical and psychological
symptoms as victims of acknowledged
rape. Victims often experience anxiety
and depression. They may have sexual
problems. They could even have suicidal
thoughts. These symptoms are no less
traumatic when the forced sex was with
someone the victim knew and trusted
rather than a stranger. They are no less
traumatic if victims continue to interact
with their rapists.
Debunking myths, particularly
that all rapes are physically
violent and between strangers,
could help change cultural
attitudes.
Kathy Ryan, Ph.D., is a personality
and social psychologist at
Lycoming College. Her research
and studies focus primarily
on rape and intimate partner
violence, playful aggression and
narcissism.
In addition, acquaintance rapists
are very similar to men who are tried
and convicted of rape. They share the
same focus on hyper-masculinity and
the same belief systems. Rapists hold
rape-supportive beliefs and they are
preoccupied with sex. Rapists also have
sexual scripts that including fantasies
and plans for sex that do not allow for
women to refuse sex. Moreover, our
culture inadvertently encourages people
to objectify others and fosters the belief
that some individuals deserve to be raped.
This feeds the sexual narcissism that causes
rape. So, it is what rapists think that gives
them permission to rape.
Debunking myths, particularly the
script that holds that rapes are physically
violent and between strangers, could help
to change cultural attitudes. People need to
stop saying things like “she shouldn’t have
dressed like that” or “she shouldn’t have
drunk so much,” in other words, blaming
the victim. People need to stop saying
“boys will be boys.” Rape is not a biological
mandate, it is a behavioral choice.
We must challenge rape-prone beliefs
in others. We need a firm belief that sex
must always be completely consensual.
Begging, cajoling, and pleading are
annoying, but acceptable behaviors. Drugs,
threats, physically restraining a person, or
using group pressure are never acceptable
behaviors. Only yes means yes!
Understanding rape is
not simple; it is a complex
phenomenon with multiple
determinants. To end it,
we need to have an honest
conversation about sex and
rape.
Ultimately, our goal is zero tolerance for
rape — zero tolerance for rape on college
campuses, zero tolerance for rape in
prisons, and zero tolerance for rape in
cultural and religious institutions. Zero
tolerance of rape will be achieved only
when societal perceptions about rape
are expanded to include the truth about
rape.
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