NCJ Number
124177
Date Published
1989
Length
23 pages
Annotation
There are several categories of known rapists, including dates and husbands.
Abstract
Studies show that 20.9 percent of women on university campuses were offended by forceful attempts at intercourse and 6.2 percent by aggressive attempts where threats or physical pain were employed. Sexual aggression by husbands occurs to one of every seven women ever married. Several studies have revealed more about unreported cases, cases in which the rapist is well known to the victims, and about victims of attempted rape. A contributing factor to the occurrence of rape is that men can get away with it. Rapists may be motivated simultaneously by power, anger, sexuality, and male camaraderie. Rapists are likely to believe rape myths such as "the woman asked for it," or "she really wanted it." A wide range of institutional-level changes could help deter rape, such as the promotion of changes in the socialization of male and female children. Another is to promote changes that will delegitimize rape and make it unacceptable behavior. 27 notes.