Perspectives on Date Rape

Rape and Sexual Assault of College Students Relationship to victim Relationship to victim –74% known –23% stranger Perceived using drugs or alcohol Perceived using drugs or alcohol –41% perceived using –40% perceived not using –20% don’t know Source: 2003 Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report (NCVS )

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%

Rape and Sexual Assault of College Students Police Notification Police Notification –12% reported to police –86% not reported to police –1% don’t know Who reported to police Who reported to police –73% victim –27% someone else Source: 2003 Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report (NCVS )

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

A Cultural Explanation Male socialization 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) Are these tendencies exacerbated within fraternities? (reading)

A Controversial View Does “no” always mean no? Does “no” always mean no? Token resistance Token resistance –Women sometimes say “no” when they mean “yes” or “maybe” 70% of women have done this at some time 70% of women have done this at some time

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 partner’s feelings 61% Embarrassed about own body 56% Fear of sexually transmitted disease 34% From Muehlenhard and Hollanbaugh, 1988

Mixed Messages About Sex Sexual fantasies Sexual fantasies –Many couples pretend coercion during sex –40% of female college students fantasize about coercive sex  (Loren and Weeks, 1986)

His Role: “Token Affection” What messages does he give in order to convince her to have sex? What messages does he give in order to convince her to have sex? How do his messages contribute to token resistance? How do his messages contribute to token resistance?