Perspectives on Date Rape

1
Perspectives on Date Rape
2
Rape and Sexual Assaultof College Students
Source 2003 Bureau of Justice Statistics Special
Report (NCVS 1995-2000)

• Relationship to victim
• 74 known
• 23 stranger
• Perceived using drugs or alcohol
• 41 perceived using
• 40 perceived not using
• 20 dont know

3
A 1988 Survey of College Women
Had unwanted sex activity (not intercourse) due to verbal pressure 44
Had unwanted sex activity (not intercourse) due to force (held down) 13
Had unwanted intercourse attempted after taking drugs or alcohol 12
Had unwanted intercourse completed after taking drugs or alcohol 8
Had unwanted intercourse completed by force (held down) 9
4
Rape and Sexual Assaultof College Students
Source 2003 Bureau of Justice Statistics Special
Report (NCVS 1995-2000)

• Police Notification
• 12 reported to police
• 86 not reported to police
• 1 dont know
• Who reported to police
• 73 victim
• 27 someone else

5
Rape on Campus

• Few women report the crime to police
• Almost half keep it completely secret
• Why so little reporting?
• Few define the event as rape
• Friends interpretations and advice are very
  influential

6
A Cultural Explanation

• Male socialization
• Frequent sex is a sign of masculinity
• Men are taught to separate sex from love
• Women are depicted as objects for pleasure
• Men are expected to be the aggressor in sex
• Men expect sex under certain conditions
• Are these tendencies exacerbated within
  fraternities? (reading)

7
A Controversial View

• Does no always mean no?
• Token resistance
• Women sometimes say no when they mean yes or
  maybe
• 70 of women have done this at some time

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Reasons for Token Resistance
Fear of appearing promiscuous 90
Practical reasons (fear of pregnancy) 90
Desire to be the one in control 87
Emotional, religious, moral reasons 77
Get partner more aroused 75
Uncertain about partners feelings 61
Embarrassed about own body 56
Fear of sexually transmitted disease 34
From Muehlenhard and Hollanbaugh, 1988
9
Mixed Messages About Sex

• Sexual fantasies
• Many couples pretend coercion during sex
• 40 of female college students fantasize about
  coercive sex
• (Loren and Weeks, 1986)

10
His Role Token Affection

• What messages does he give in order to convince
  her to have sex?
• How do his messages contribute to token
  resistance?