Women Being Raped: It’s Not Always a Stranger

When people think of rape, they might think of a stranger jumping out of a shadowy place and sexually attacking someone. But it’s not only strangers who rape. Actually, many people who have been raped already knew the person who attacked them.

Growing up means developing friendships and meeting new people. Interacting with others is an important and exciting part of life. Most friendships, acquaintances, and dates never lead to violence, of course. But, the sad truth is, it does sometimes happen.

Watch this video and learn ten safety tips from the threat of date rape

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What is Date Rape?

When forced sex occurs between two people who already know each other, it is known as date rape. Even if the two people know each other well, and even if they were close before, no one has the right to force a sexual act from another against his or her will. females are most often the victims, but it can happen to males too.

Help for Abused Women: Domestic Violence Facts

Even though rape involves forced sex, rape is not about passion. Rape has nothing to do with love. Rape is an act of violence.

Healthy relationships involve respect – including respect for the other person’s feelings. If a date, friend, or boyfriend is pressuring a girl to be closer than she wants to be, that’s not a healthy relationship. Sex is not something that one person owes to another. Someone who really cares will respect a girl’s wishes and not apply force or pressure about sex.

Teenage Drug Abuse can lead to Date Rape

Alcohol use is involved in many date rapes. Drinking can loosen people’s smart way of thinking, lack of common sense, and – for some – bring out aggressive behaviour. A teen using alcohol will find many situations when it becomes harder to use good judgment, to be cautious, or to protect himself/herself.

Rohypnol: The Date Rape Drug

A recent trend, especially on college campuses, has been the illegal use of the drug Rohypnol, sometimes called the date rape drug. Also called “roofies” or “the forget pill”, this drug may be prescribed to help people sleep. When Rohypnol and alcohol are mixed, however, the effects can be devastating.

Girls who have been given Rohypnol and alcohol may report feeling paralyzed, having blurred vision, and temporarily experiencing memory impairment. They can blackout and forget things that happen to them while they are in this state. Because Rohypnol may be slipped into girls’ beverages at a party or at other times without their knowledge.

Learn about different types of drugs and drug effects.

TIP: Experts suggest that girls should always handle their own beverages.

Protecting Yourself Against Date Rape

The best defence against date rape is to try to prevent it whenever possible. A girl can help to protect herself from possible date rape by:

  • Avoiding secluded places (even his room or hers) with someone until she knows him well and he has earned her trust.
  • Not spending time alone with someone who makes her feel uneasy or uncomfortable. This means following her instincts and removing herself from situations that she doesn’t feel good about.
  • Staying sober. Many date rapes involve drugs or alcohol, and sometimes a date might slip a drug like Rohypnol into a drink to make a person more vulnerable.
  • Learning to say “no” in a definite way. Girls should say it clearly when they need to, and guys should understand that “no” means “no” – it is not an invitation to try to persuade someone to have sex.

And of course, even if a girl does use poor judgment, has a drink, gets herself into an uncomfortable situation, or doesn’t yell “NO” loudly enough, a guy still never has the right to use force or coercion.