Date And Acquaintance Rape

Date rape is when someone you know forces you to have sexual intercourse. This can happen when you are out on a date, at a party or in some other social settings. It can happen when people have just met or when two people have been going out for a long time. But, if someone you don’t know well and are not dating, forces you to have sexual intercourse, it is called acquaintance rape. 

Many young women are raped or coerced into having sexual intercourse by their dates, or have their safety seriously compromised by risk-taking partners. Women of all ages are prone to exploitation by males. Teenage girls are more vulnerable to date and acquaintance rape. Young women are especially vulnerable in a society where males assume authority over female. Girls need to learn ways to protect themselves as much as boys need to “unlearn” their disregard for females. In the absence of mutual respect and self-assertion, dating presents another arena for exploitation.

A girl’s inability to communicate assertively may result in assault or unwanted sexual intercourse. Sometimes, the partner who has paid date expenses feels he is entitled to some sexual activity with the partner. To avoid this, either partner or both can pay the date expenses. Dating must never be used as bait for sexual activity.

When we think about force and rape, we often picture someone using knife or gun- or, we think about one person overpowering the other person. But there are other kinds of force. Here are some examples:

·         Threatening to harm the person

·         Making it seem like something even worse will happen if she/he doesn’t give in.

·         Having sexual intercourse with someone who is too drunk or high to say no

·         Not taking no for answer

How can date and acquaintance rape be avoided? If someone is pushing you to have sexual intercourse when you don’t want to:

·         Say no clearly and with force

·         Move away from the person

·         If the person is still not listening to you, get away as fast as you can

·         If the person is trying to use force- fight back!

·         Yell loudly

Remember, a person has the right to say no to sex any time;

·         Even if you have been making out (kissing, cuddling etc)

·         Even if you have been drinking

·         Even if you said yes at first and then changed your mind

·         Even if you have been going out for a long time

·         Even if you nave had sexual intercourse before

·         Even if your date has spent a lot of money

·         Even if you’re dressed in sexy clothes

·         Even if you agreed to go to a secluded place