There are many questions concerning what date rape actually is. One criminaljustice book states “date rape is unlawful forced sexual intercourse with afemale against her will which occurs within the context of a datingrelationship” ( Schmalleger 735). There are many other meanings that coulddefine date rape, however this is from a legalistic point of view. Date rapeoccurs on almost every campus large or small, private or public, rural or urban.There are many elements that attribute to the causes of date rape: drugs andalcohol, miscommunication, and changing sexual mores. Date rape often occurswith people that the victim knows and who would “supposedly” be theirfriends. This usually happens when the woman is alone with the man.
It can occurwhen others are relatively close by such as outside a house, or downstairs in ahouse. The mix of drugs and alcohol are significant factors of date rape. Theycompromise your ability to make responsible decisions. Drinking has become apopular social activity amongst college students and has been seen throughoutsociety as setting the mood for romance. After a few drinks a womans judgmentis altered, and it is often difficult to push away sexual advances.
Women cansay that they drank too much or did too many drugs to know what exactly washappening. Many people will say that when alcohol is in their system, itdisables your vision, allowing other people to become more appealing to the eye.This could be one of the reasons why date rape often occurs on college campusesat fraternity houses or bars.
Between a womans lowered inhibitions anddelayed reactions and a mans raised confidence, it is often difficult toresist some sexual advances. Sometimes a woman will pass out and wake up with aman having sex on top of her. The woman would not even know that she was beingraped if she hadnt woken up. This also wouldnt happen if she werentunder the influence of alcohol or any other drug. Rohypnol (roofies) is referredto as the “date rape drug.” This drug is a sedative, meaning that itmakes the person drowsy. Rohypnol is much stronger than any other sedative,making it illegal to prescribe or use in the United States.
Looking like anaspirin, Rohypnol can easily be placed into a womans drink. The woman wouldnot even know whether it was in her drink because it dissolves, and it isodorless and tasteless. The drug knocks you out so you have no idea what ishappening, nor do you remember what had happened. Often Rohypnol is used in daterape because the woman wouldnt even know that she was being raped, nor wouldshe have denied sex. Alcohol and drugs play an important role in date rape, so awoman should be cautious when drinking and to whom and where her drinks arebeing placed. Miscommunication is another important cause of date rape. Thewoman may act friendly, and the man would interpret that as an invitation tohave sex.
“No” can be heard as “maybe” and even a consistentand strong protest can be ignored, under the delusion that “no” canactually mean “yes.” “For if the girl did not physically resist,then sex did indeed take place by clear and mutual consent” (Rothbard 271).If communication about sexual intentions were clear and firm, it would be easierfor the man to accept a womans decision. “Advances by males, in almostany form, that do not receive clear and explicit consent are deemed coercive orassaultive” (Gilbert 278). Acting in manners of flirtation and strongsexual signals, this often gives off the message of wanting sex, being assertiveand cautious would help the miscommunication. Some men find it sexually excitingand kinky for a woman to struggle. If a womans protest isnt very strong, aman may think that he is persuading her into having sex.
The man will believethat the womans struggle is just an act of foreplay, urging sex to happen.Men have been taught early in their lives to turn no or maybe into a yes.Sometimes a woman isnt sure if she wants to have sex. She doesntnecessarily want to go along with it because of the stereotype of being”loose.” She could go along with sex, never having consented to it,but not denying it either. If she then proceeds and during decides not to gothrough with it, the man could become angry and hostile. Then the man wouldforce the female into sex, and he would then be raping her. The miscommunicationbetween males and females about sex should be clear so that there is notquestion of whether the man raped the woman or not.
Changing traditional moresof males and females in todays society also play a large role in the cause ofdate rape. Men are taught to be aggressors, from the sports that they play totheir sexual feelings. This belief which encourages these actions often leadsmales to believe that they can have sex when they want it. Women on the otherhand are taught to be lady like, and be passive. Women are often discouragedfrom having sexual feelings and experimenting with them.
In todays society ifa woman is to experiment with her sexual desires she is often called a slut,whore, or tramp. This double standard allows men to act on their sexualfeelings, but a woman can only do this if it involves some emotional aspect. Inthe last few decades there has been a loosening of sexual standards. The birthcontrol pill and condoms have made many people engage in sex at a much earlierage, thinking they will not get pregnant or get a sexually transmitted disease.Many college men think sex is a given after dating a female a few times.Sometimes women may share the same expectation, but then again she may not.”Many men need to educate themselves about what is permissible in varioussituations” (Celis 267).
Some men believe that women that are alreadysexually active are willing to have sex with them. Then the man will try andwhen the female says “no,” the man will persist anyway. Traditions ofsex and the male asserting dominance are changing, and females are becoming moreinformed and educated on the subject of date rape. Date rape is often an attemptto assert power, and feel superior to the female.
Date rape has many elements atplay roles in it including alcohol and drugs, miscommunication, and changingsexual mores.Human Sexuality Issues
