“No one deserves to be raped. It doesn’t matter what you wear or where you go; consent is non-negotiable.”
– Unknown
Acquaintance rape the most common type of rape according to statistics.
Acquaintance rape, while sometimes associated with date rape, refers explicitly to sexual assault committed by someone you know. Teenagers and young women often face increased vulnerability to this form of assault. Perpetrators may initiate these acts with the intent of engaging in sexual activity. When a victim resists, the perpetrator may escalate to more aggressive measures to coerce compliance.
They often use some or all of the following tactics to overcome your resistance:
- Use of force
- Intimidation
- Manipulative tactics
- Guilt
Their goal is to make a person feel so uncomfortable that they give in. Examples of this may include verbal threats, physical aggression, psychological pressure, and emotional manipulation, creating an environment where the victim feels compelled to comply with the assailant’s unwanted advances. It is important to remember that “No” is a complete sentence, and you don’t have to go along with anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Contrary to common belief, sexual assault can occur within marriages. This can be challenging to grasp, given the traditional notion that a spouse cannot decline intimate relations. Until recently, many state laws did not consider spouses as victims of rape, making it legally possible for one spouse to assault another. Fortunately, there has been a shift in awareness, and more recent legal updates are addressing and challenging this outdated perspective.
Sexual assault by a complete stranger, known as stranger rape, is actually less common than many people believe, and make up only 7% of perpetrators (Rainn). Contrary to popular notions, statistics indicate that acquaintance rape occurs more frequently than stranger rape.
Multiple-perpetrator sexual assault occurs when two or more perpetrators act together to sexually assault the same victim.
This type of rape is age-related. It involves engaging in illegal sexual activities with a person below a legally defined minimum age. Additionally, there’s the concept of the age of consent, where engaging in sexual acts with a person above the minimum age but below the age of consent may be considered rape, depending on the perpetrator. These specific ages are determined by state laws.
Incest is a type of rape dictated by the relationship between the two parties. When the two parties involved in sexual acts are closely related (in other words, they are family), it is often rape. Family members account for 7% of rapists.
Examples of incest include:
- Parents and children
- Uncles and nieces or nephews
- Aunts and nieces or nephews
Laws vary by state to define what constitutes incest.
Sources: Rainn, DomesticAbuseShelter.org, Health Place
A Survivor Not a Victim 