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. In fact, about half of all people who are raped know the person who attacked them.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Most friendships, acquaintances, and dates never lead to violence, of course. But, sadly, sometimes it happens. When forced sex occurs between two people who already know each other, it is known as date rape or acquaintance rape.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Even if the two people know each other well, and even if they were intimate or had sex before, no one has the right to force a sexual act on another person against his or her will.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Girls and women are most often raped - one in three women will be sexually assaulted in her life. Guys can also be raped, though: 7% to 10% of rape victims are male.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Even though rape involves forced sex, rape is not about sex or passion. Rape has nothing to do with love. Rape is an act of aggression and violence.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 You may hear some people say that those who have been raped were somehow "asking for it" because of the clothes they wore or the way they acted. That's wrong: The person who is raped is not to blame. Rape is always the fault of the rapist. And that's also the case when two people are dating - or even in an intimate relationship. One person never owes the other person sex. If sex is forced against someone's will, that's rape.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Healthy relationships involve respect - including respect for the feelings of others. Someone who really cares about you will respect your wishes and not force or pressure you to have sex.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Alcohol & DrugsHRD中国英语学习网 Alcohol is often involved in date rapes. Drinking can loosen inhibitions, dull common sense, and - for some people - allow aggressive tendencies to surface.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Drugs may also play a role. You may have heard about "date rape" drugs like rohypnol ("roofies"), gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), and ketamine. Drugs like these can easily be mixed in drinks to make a person black out and forget things that happen. Both girls and guys who have been given these drugs report feeling paralyzed, having blurred vision, and lack of memory.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Mixing these drugs with alcohol is highly dangerous and can kill.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Protecting YourselfHRD中国英语学习网 The best defense against date rape is to try to prevent it whenever possible. Here are some things both girls and guys can do:HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Avoid secluded places (this may even mean your room or your partner's) until you trust your partner. HRD中国英语学习网 Don't spend time alone with someone who makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable. This means following your instincts and removing yourself from situations that you don't feel good about. HRD中国英语学习网 Stay sober and aware. If you're with someone you don't know very well, be aware of what's going on around you and try to stay in control. Also, be aware of your date's ability to consent to sexual activity - you may become guilty of committing rape if the other person is not in a condition to respond or react. HRD中国英语学习网 Know what you want. Be clear about what kind of relationship you want with another person. If you are not sure, then ask the other person to respect your feelings and to give you time. Don't allow yourself to be subject to peer pressure or encouraged to do something that you don't want to do. HRD中国英语学习网 Go out with a group of friends and watch out for each other. HRD中国英语学习网 Don't be afraid to ask for help if you feel threatened. HRD中国英语学习网 Take self-defense courses. These can build confidence and teach valuable physical techniques a person can use to get away from an attacker. HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Getting HelpHRD中国英语学习网 Unfortunately, even if someone takes every precaution, date rape can still happen. If you're raped, here are some things that you can do:HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 If you're injured, go straight to the emergency room - most medical centers and hospital emergency departments have doctors and counselors who have been trained to take care of someone who has been raped. HRD中国英语学习网 Call or find a friend, family member, or someone you feel safe with and tell them what happened. HRD中国英语学习网 If you want to report the rape, call the police right away. Preserve all the physical evidence. Don't change clothes or wash. HRD中国英语学习网 Write down as much as you can remember about the event. HRD中国英语学习网 If you aren't sure what to do, call a rape crisis center. If you don't know the number, your local phone book will have hotline numbers. HRD中国英语学习网 Don't be afraid to ask questions and get information. You'll have lots of questions as you go through the process - such as whether to report the rape, who to tell, and the kinds of reactions you may get from others.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Rape isn't just physically damaging - it can be emotionally traumatic as well. It may be hard to think or talk about something as personal as being raped by someone you know. But talking with a trained rape crisis counselor or other mental health professional can give you the right emotional attention, care, and support to begin the healing process. Working things through can help prevent lingering problems later on.HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Related ArticlesHRD中国英语学习网 Date Rape Drugs HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 In recent years a new kind of rape threat has reared it's ugly head at parties, on campuses and in nightclubs - so called "predator" or "date rape" drugs. What exactly are date rape drugs? Technically speaking, any substance that renders you incapable of saying no or asserting yourself and your needs can be used to commit rape. This can include things like alcohol, marijuana or other street drugs, designer or club drugs like ecstasy, over-the-counter sleeping pills and antihistamines, even cold medications. However, the term "date rape drug" usually applies to the drugs Rohypnol, Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate (GHB) and Ketamine Hydrochloride. HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 Why do these drugs make effective date rape drugs? There are many factors that make these drugs desirable to sexual predators. The drugs are virtually undetectable; they are tasteless, odorless and colorless. All traces of the drugs will leave the body within 72 hours of ingestion and are not found in any routine toxicology screen or blood test - doctors and police have to be looking specifically for them and they have to look quickly! Date rape drugs are easily slipped into drinks and food and are very fast acting. They render the victim unconscious but responsive with little or no memory of what happens while the drug is active in their system. The drugs also make the victim act without inhibition, often in a sexual or physically affectionate way. Like most drugs, date rape drugs render a person incapable of thinking clearly or of making appropriate decision. This makes for a very passive victim, one who is still able to play a role in what is happening but who will have no clear memory of what happened after-the-fact. Without any memory of events the victim is often unaware that they have even been raped, and if they are aware or have suspicions they make very poor witnesses. HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 So how do you know if you have fallen victim to a rape using a date rape drug? It is difficult, but not impossible. First, there are some very clear signs that sexual activity has taken place even if you have no memory of actually "doing it." (It is important to note here that if you have had sex but can not remember doing it or offering consent you have been raped under the law, whether a date rape drug has been used or not.) Signs that a sexual assault has taken place can include; soreness or bruising in the genital area, soreness or bruising in the anal area, bruising on the inner and/or outer thighs, bruising on the wrists and forearms, defensive bruising or scratching (the kind that would occur during a struggle), used condoms near you or in nearby garbage containers, and traces of semen or vaginal fluids on clothes, body or nearby furniture. Since people who have been slipped a date rape drug appear to others to be very intoxicated, an extremely reliable sign that you have been raped using a date rape drug is gossip from others about your behavior or the behavior of those around you. Aside from indications of sexual activity, other clues that a date rape drug may have been given to you include: feeling "hung-over" despite having ingested little or no alcohol, a sense of having had hallucinations or very "real" dreams, fleeting memories of feeling or acting intoxicated despite having taken no drugs or drinking no alcohol, no clear memory of events during an 8 to 24 hour period with no known reason for the memory lapse, and stories from others about how intoxicated you seemed at a time when you know you had taken no drugs, medications or alcohol. Short of being told that you have been given a date rape drug, there is no way to be sure without medical testing. If you suspect that you have been given a date rape drug you need to get to a hospital quickly and you must request that you be properly tested. The drugs can be found in your system if you act quickly. If you suspect that you have been raped using any one of these drugs go to a hospital and request a preliminary rape exam with testing for date rape drugs. This is the only way to know for sure. HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 The introduction of date rape drugs into mainstream culture has put a very powerful weapon in the hands of sexual predators. Rapes can be easily committed behind a foggy haze of intoxication often leaving the victim oblivious to the fact they have been assaulted. It is a frightening thought that begs the question: "What, if anything, can be done to stop a person from falling victim to a rape using a date rape drug?" There are some simple behavior modifications you can make to ensure that you do not fall prey to a rapist armed with a date rape drug. To protect yourself always follow these simple rules: HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 1. Don't accept open drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) from others who you do not know or do not trust; this includes drinks that come in a glass. HRD中国英语学习网 2. When in bars or clubs always get your drink directly from the bartender and do not take your eyes off the bartender or your order; don't use the waitress or let somebody go to the bar for you. HRD中国英语学习网 3. At parties, only accept drinks in close containers: bottles, cans or tetra packs. HRD中国英语学习网 4. Never leave your drink unattended or turn your back on your table. HRD中国英语学习网 5. Do not drink from open beverage sources like punch bowls, pitchers or tubs. HRD中国英语学习网 6. Keep your eyes and ears open; if there is talk of date rape drugs or if friends seem "too intoxicated" for what they have taken, leave the party or club immediately and don't go back! HRD中国英语学习网 HRD中国英语学习网 If these behavior modifications don't feel like enough protection, or if you don't think you can follow these rules on a given night, you do have another option. There is a brand new defense against date rape drugs that has recently been approved for use in North America; it is a simple and inexpensive test kit that can be used to detect the presence of date rape drugs in drinks. The so called "Drink Safe Technology" is actually a package of drink testing strips or coasters that work like those litmus paper strips you use in Chemistry class. The strips and coasters change color when they come in contact with a date rape drug. The strips fit in your purse or pocket and can be used quickly and discretely.
