Society has the view, that rape is not committed by someone known to the victim. This refers to the myth of "Real Rape," which is the social norm that our culture has adopted for what constitutes a legitimate sexual assault. This suggests that only acts in which sexual intercourse is forced against one's will is considered sexual assault.
Society teaches us that "real rape"is perpetrated by a stranger. However, statistics show that most victims know their perpetrator. Acquaintance, date, and spousal rape is dramatically more prevalent than stranger rape. In a study published by the Department of Justice, 82% of the victims were raped by someone they knew. The Department of Justice also found that among victims 18 to 29 years old, two-thirds had a prior relationship with the rapist.
Society teaches us that "real rape"involves physical violence. Contrary to this belief, a rape does not have to involve physical violence. A rape can be perpetrated with the use of a threat. If a perpetrator threatens his victim, it can be just as powerful as the use of physical violence. The threat can be of physical violence against the victim or someone they care about, such as a child.
Society teaches us that "real rape"leaves obvious signs of physical injury. Physical injury is often caused by the victim being approached abruptly or by the victim fighting back. Acquaintance and date rape are two forms of rape that tend to eliminate this element. First, the victim knows the perpetrator and may see no sign of danger and therefore, may be easily approachable. Secondly, once victims say "no" it is considered rape. Some victims are so shocked that they don't fight back because they are afraid it will make it work. Some victims believed that fighting back would anger the perpetrator and provoke him to do more than rape them. Fighting back may inflame the perpetrator to kill them,
Society teaches us that "real rape"involves the use of the weapon. However, the Bureau of Justice Statistics states that a weapon is used in an estimated 30% of stranger rapes and only 15% of rapes committed by someone known to the victim.
Society teaches us that "real rape"causes the victim to be hysterical. This is not true because no two rapes are the same and no two victims are the same. Most victims have mixed initial emotions because they are in shock, which can cause them to be extremely calm. However, a victim's initial emotion after an assault could be a range of responses, such as anger, fear, anxiety, restlessness, tension, crying, nervous laughing, or little or no emotion at all.
Society teaches us that "real rape"is reported immediately to the police. However, rape is widely recognized as the most underreported violent crime in America. In a large national survey of American women called Rape in America: A Report to the Nation, National Victim Center, statistics show that only 16% of the rapes (approximately one out of every six) had ever been reported to the police. And according to the National Victim Center and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, one out of every eight women has been a victim of rape.
Society teaches us that "real rape"is committed in a dark alley, at night, on the bad side of town. However, approximately 50% of rapes occur in the victims' homes or apartment building.
Society teaches us that "real rape"is more likely committed by a black man against a white woman. Contrary to belief, the vast majority of sexual assaults and rapes are intra-racial, meaning that a victim is more likely to have been rape by someone of their own race rather than someone of a different race, with the exception of American Indian victims. According to statistics, American Indian victims reported approximately 8 in 10 rapes or sexual assaults are committed by someone outside their race. Native women also experience a higher rate of sexual assault victimization than any other race.
Society teaches us that "real rape"cannot be perpetrated against a prostitute. However, a woman's profession does not eliminate her right to say no. Sexual intercourse against a person's will is still rape. Many prostitutes experience rape in their line of work and police may not take their cases as serious as the rape of what they refer to as a productive citizen. But the truth is, any sexual activity without consent is sexual assault and a CRIME.
Society teaches us that "real rape"cannot be perpetrated by a man against his wife. Up until the 1970's, most states did not consider spousal rape a crime and spouses were exempt from sexual assault laws. Today, spousal rape is a crime in all 50 states, but some states, like Tennessee, have some exemptions from prosecution for rape. Studies show that rapes committed by intimate partners tend to be more violent than stranger rapes. Nearly 50% of spousal rape victims studied were beaten immediately before or during the assault. The Dark Consequences of Marital Rape, 1989.
Society teaches us that "real rape"involves only penile-vaginal penetration. Rape is not restricted to penile-vaginal penetration. According to the definition indicated in the laws of the State of Tennessee, rape is unlawful sexual penetration; sexual penetration being defined as sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse, or any other intrusion, however slight, of any part of a person's body or of any object into the genital or anal openings of the victim's, the defendant's, or any other person's body, but emission of semen is no required.
