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Essay on Date Rape among College Students
Since the early 1990s, the date-rape debate has continued on college campuses across the United States where co-ed dormitories, alcohol abuse, and casual sex lead to frequent accusations of sexual assault. Unfortunately, date rape is a common crime in our society, and it often occurs in a college environment. A nationwide study which was conducted on college campuses revealed some astounding findings: (Andrea, 2001).
- 52% of women students have experienced some form of sexual victimization.
- 1 in 8 college women have been victims of rape.
- 1 in 12 college men admitted to sexually abusing women but did not consider themselves rapists.
- Of the women raped, almost 75% didn't identify it as such.
- 47% of rapes were by first or casual dates or by romantic acquaintances.
- Over 1/3 of the women didn't discuss the rape with anyone, and over 90% didn't report it to the police.
The following signs, which you should look for in a date, may indicate that he could be capable of sexual assault: hostility toward women, misconceptions about women and their needs, domineering personality and unrealistic views of women. Also, you should realize that men and women share a responsibility in a relationship. Women have a responsibility to talk openly about sexual expectations (Andrea, 2001). They should assert themselves in their rights and reject the sexual stereotype that defines women as passive and compliant.
The continuing battle over date rape on college campuses illustrates how the expanded definition of rape first advocated by researcher Mary Koss remains a highly controversial issue in American society. On the one hand, it is clear that the concept of date rape has gained a significant level of cultural acceptance due in large measure to the campus and community activism of the anti-rape movement.In addition, the American legal system has taken the “no means no” slogan of feminists seriously.....
