Date Rape Rape is and always will be wrong. As date rape cases become more frequent, the line between rape and miscommunication is blurred. The issue of rape is no longer black or white, but rather most cases it falls in to the gray area. Rape occurs when one individual takes advantage of the other knowingly against their wishes.
College dating has become ominous for date rape. Teens are, usually for the first time, completely free from parental supervision. Consequently, this leads to casual hookups. One former college student cannot leave such occurrences in the past, “She is haunted by the memory of something that occurred one night years ago — a sexual encounter and an unanswered question: Was I raped?”(Stepp, 2008). This grey area of data rape is not an easy case. She is still unsure as to whether or not she was raped, probably leaving the ‘rapist’ even more confused. This shows miscommunication in the situation, not rape. Jacoby, an adamant feminist, takes an extreme stances on how to avoid rape, "a woman must be constantly on her guard to avoid giving a man any excuses to give way to his baser instincts" (1991). Most men are not rapists and when told ‘no’, they will understand.
Despite the cases of date rape that are simply miscommunications, many cases of date rape are hideous crimes and should be dealt with severely. After being raped, the victim often feels worthless leading to the alarming statistic of, “The percentage of women who informed the police was … 28 percent” (Curtis, 1997). Over seventy percent of all rapes go unreported because the victim feels ashamed and embarrassed. Paglia, however would argue that many times the victim is responsible. “Feminism keeps saying the sexes are the same. It keeps telling women they can do anything, go anywhere, say anything, wear anything. No, they can’t. Women will always be in sexual danger” (1991). Paglia believes that often times it is the woman’s own fault for her rape for how she behaved or what she wore. Despite what might have transpired earlier in the date, a ‘no’ is always clear and the date should stop. The greatest threat to the dating scene are drugs known as date rape drugs. “Because of the effects of these drugs, victims may be physically helpless, unable to refuse sex, and unable to remember what happened. The drugs often have no color, odor or taste and are easily added to flavored drinks without the victim’s knowledge” (Blagojevich, 2008). Use of date rape drugs allows the rapist to win. They can take advantage of their victim without any fight or any consequences. A rapist should never win.
Date
rape is a common crime at this
time, partly due to many rapes that are just miscommunications. Yet,
when a
person clearly says ‘no’ and their date proceeds, rape has occurred.
Rape is
serious because it emotionally destroys its victims. Most victims of
date rape
are unable to overcome that experience and their future relationships
and life are
plagued by their rape. Most are unable to move on in their lives and
live in
fear. Rape is a serious and debilitating crime and miscommunication sex
should
be excluding from this category because it reduces the severity of
rape. Still
the main problem of rape is how to treat the victims so that they may
move on with their lives, a major question for this and future
generations.
Reference List
Blagojevich, R. Facts About Date-Rape Drugs. Retrieved October 17,2008, from http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/womenshealth/factsheets/date.htm
Curtis, D. C. (1997). Perspectives on Acquaintance Rape [Abstract]. American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. Retrieved October 16, 2008, from http://www.aaets.org/article13.htm Jacoby, S. J. (1991). Common Decency. New York Times Magazine.
Paglia, C. P. (1991).It's a Jungle Out ThereNew York Newsday.
Stepp, L. S. (2008). A New King of Date Rape. Cosmopolitan. Retrieved October 16, 2008, from http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/sex/new-kind-of-date-rape GRADE 85/100 |