CHAPTER 13: Sexual Aggression and Violence: Rape, Child Sexual Abuse, and Sexual
Harassment
1. According to the text, where does the marital rape “double standard” come from?
a. the Bible
b. old English common law in which the wife was seen as property
c. the biological understanding of differences in sex drive
d. the socialization process dating back to the Puritans
Answer: B
Rationale:
The marital rape double standard originates from old English law in which the wife was seen
as property.
2. ________ states now provide for criminal penalties for rape within marriage.
a. 16
b. 24
c. One half of
d. All 50
Answer: D
Rationale:
All 50 states now provide criminal penalties for rape within marriage.
3. As of 2008, ________ states continued to treat marital rape less severely than other kinds
of rape.
a. 6
b. 18
c. 30
d. All 50
Answer: C
Rationale:
Thirty states continue to treat marital rape less severely than other types of rape.
4. The impact of rape within an ongoing intimate relationship (such as a marriage) has been
found to be ________.
a. less traumatic
b. equally or more traumatic
c. more likely to be reported
d. the impact is not known
Answer: B
Rationale:
Rape within an on-going intimate relationship such as marriage is equally or more traumatic.
5. The estimates of marital rape range from ________ of married women.
a. 1%-2%
b. 3%-9%
c. 8%-14%
d. 10%-30%
Answer: C
Rationale:
Rape within marriage is estimated as 8-14%.
6. For 2009, the average number of rapes was over ________ per day in the United States
alone.
a. 30
b. 80
c. 160
d. 240
Answer: D
Rationale:
The average number of rapes per day in the United States is 240.
7. Abby was a victim of rape. If her situation was like most rapes, this was committed by
________.
a. a stranger to Abby
b. someone Abby knows
c. someone Abby met online
d. a man who Abby has sexually aroused
Answer: B
Rationale:
Most rapes are committed by someone known to the victim.
8. The vast majority of rapes are committed by ________.
a. men against men
b. men against women
c. fathers against their children
d. women against men
Answer: B
Rationale:
The majority of rapes are committed by men against women.
9. Approximately ________ of men report being the victim of rape or attempted rape at some
point in their lifetime compared to approximately ________ of women.
a. 1%; 5%
b. 2%; 10%
c. 3%; 20%
d. 5%; 50%
Answer: C
Rationale:
Approximately 3% of men versus 20% of women report being the victim of rape or attempted
rape.
10. The majority of male rapes are committed by ________.
a. women they are dating
b. gay men
c. other men
d. women who are strangers
Answer: C
Rationale:
If a man is raped, it is almost always by another man.
11. In terms of men being raped by women, all of the following were identified as tactics,
except ________.
a. having sex through psychological pressure (threats to end the relationship or blackmail)
b. physical force (holding down, tying up)
c. threats with weapons
d. crying and pleading
Answer: D
Rationale:
If a woman rapes a man she is likely to us tactics such as psychological pressure, physical
force, and threats with weapons.
12. When examining the idea that women secretly want to be raped because they report
fantasizing about it, it is important to remember that ________.
a. in a fantasy, you are in control, whereas in a real rape, all control is taken from you
b. most women want a domineering boyfriend
c. fantasy often does imitate reality
d. deep down many women do want to be forced or at least coerced into sex
Answer: A
Rationale:
In a rape fantasy, you are in control, whereas in a real rape, all control is taken from you.
13. The myth that women falsely accuse men of rape is based on all of the following except
________.
a. a woman regrets or feels guilty about having intercourse with a man
b. she must be angry with him
c. she is seeking revenge against him for past offenses
d. she wants to go out with him
Answer: D
Rationale:
The idea that women falsely accuse men of rape is based on ideas that she regrets or feels
guilt for having sex, she must be angry at him, or she is seeking revenge.
14. Cathy is learning about the myths versus truths of rape in her health class. She is likely to
learn that the following are all “truths” related to rape, except ________.
a. women do not encourage rape by their dress and actions
b. rape is not about sex, but about power and control
c. women often make false accusations about rape
d. rape fantasies do not imply that women want to be raped in real life
Answer: C
Rationale:
Some truths about rape include such things as women do not encourage rape by their dress or
action, rape is not about sex but about power and control, and rape fantasies do not imply that
women want to be raped in real life.
15. Ted is learning about the myths versus truths of rape in his health class. He is likely to
learn that all of the following statements about rape are myths except ________.
a. women encourage rape by their dress and actions
b. women secretly want to be raped
c. men who rape are mentally ill
d. rape is often about power and control
Answer: D
Rationale:
Some common myths about rape include: women encourage rape by their dress and action,
women secretly want to be raped, and men who rape are mentally ill.
16. What we know to be true about the idea that all men are capable of rape includes all of the
following except it ________.
i. is a myth because most men do not rape
j. assumes it is in men’s nature to force sex
k. is not supported by the research
l. is supported in the scientific literature
Answer: D
Rationale:
In terms of the idea that all men are capable of rape, it is a myth because most men do not
rape, it assumes it is part of man’s nature, and it is not supported by the research.
17. Two facts about rape are clear: it is usually committed by a(n) ________.
i. acquaintance, and the victims are usually young
j. acquaintance, and the victims are usually in college
k. stranger, and the victims are usually young
l. stranger, and the victims are usually in college
Answer: A
Rationale:
Rape is usually committed by an acquaintance, and the victims are usually young.
18. Arlene was involved in a sexual assault while in college. She learns that she is not alone.
In fact, during their college years, ________ of college women are a victim of some form of
sexual assault or sexual coercion.
a. nearly a quarter
b. almost a third
c. more than half
d. nearly all
Answer: C
Rationale:
More than half of college women are a victim of some form of sexual assault or sexual
coercion.
19. Studies have shown that alcohol use by the victim or perpetrator is involved in ________
of all rapes.
a. few
b. less than half
c. the majority
d. 100%
Answer: C
Rationale:
Alcohol is involved in the majority of sexual assaults.
20. All of the following are true when discussing alcohol and its link to sexual assault, except
________.
e. drinking alcohol goes hand-in-hand with college life
f. alcohol is seen as causing rape
g. alcohol inhibits brain centers that are responsible for judgment, problem-solving, and
impulse control
h. alcohol increases a potential victim’s vulnerability, mentally and physically
Answer: B
Rationale:
When considering the link between alcohol and sexual assault, drinking alcohol goes handin-hand with college life, alcohol inhibits brain centers responsible for judgment, problemsolving, and impulse control, and alcohol increases a potential victim’s vulnerability.
21. Craig has been doing a research paper on the link between alcohol and sexual assault. He
has found all of the following are true when discussing alcohol and its link to sexual assault,
except ________.
a. many women believe that alcohol enhances a man’s sexual prowess
b. alcohol is known to increase the tendency toward all forms of interpersonal aggression
c. women who have been drinking at the time they were raped are often seen as less credible
when reporting the assault
d. men who rape often use alcohol as an excuse to justify their behavior
Answer: A
Rationale:
When considering the link between alcohol and sexual assault, alcohol is known to increase
the tendency toward all forms of interpersonal aggression, women who have been drinking at
the time they were raped are often seen as less credible when reporting the assault, and men
who rape often use alcohol as an excuse to justify their behavior.
22. One of the most disturbing trends in sexual assault over the past decade has been the
increased use of ________.
a. guns
b. date rape drugs
c. alcohol
d. tasers
Answer: B
Rationale:
A disturbing trend in sexual assault is the increased use of date rape drugs.
23. Rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine are all examples of ________.
a. sexual enhancement drugs
b. “uppers”
c. date rape drugs
d. hallucinogens
Answer: C
Rationale:
Common date rape drugs are Rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine.
24. If Holly is raped, she is unlikely to report it. All of the following are reasons many
women, including Holly, choose not to report the crime to authorities except ________.
a. fear of retaliation
b. guilt
c. confusion over whether it was truly rape
d. they know it really did not happen
Answer: D
Rationale:
Reasons women do not report rape include fear of retaliation, guilt, and confusion over
whether it was truly rape.
25. Rape is one of the most ________ crimes.
i. frequently-reported
j. underreported
k. falsely-reported
l. publicly-reported
Answer: B
Rationale:
Rape is one of the most underreported crimes in the United States.
26. Sylvia was raped by someone she knew. Reasons why she may be less likely to report this
rape is because like many victims, Sylvia assumes, however wrongly, all of the following
except ________.
i. maybe the assault wasn’t really rape
j. somehow she led him on or gave him mixed messages
k. it was her fault because she had been drinking
l. her complaint will be taken seriously
Answer: D
Rationale:
Reasons a woman may not repost a rape include her beliefs that maybe the assault wasn’t
really rape, somehow she lead him on or gave him mixed messages, or it was her fault
because she was drinking.
27. According to the text, nonreporting of rape is most common for ________.
a. sadistic rapes
b. stranger rapes
c. acquaintance rapes
d. situational rape
Answer: C
Rationale:
Nonreporting of rape is most common in acquaintance rapes.
28. The campus police are encouraging anyone involved in a sexual assault to report it to the
police. In their statement they say underreporting of rape is a serious problem for reducing
rape on campus because of all the following except ________.
e. without accurate statistics about the prevalence of rape, school officials will be less likely
to give the problem the attention and resources it needs
f. underreporting may lull potential victims into a false sense of security and cause them to
fail to take the precautions to protect themselves from sexual assault that they would take if
they were aware of the true number
g. if a rape goes unreported, the rapist experiences no negative consequences for his behavior
and is not only free to rape again, but may even feel encouraged to do so
h. it leads to higher college enrollment figures
Answer: D
Rationale:
Underreporting of rape is a serious problem for trying to reduce rape for a variety of reasons:
1) without accurate statistics about the prevalence of rape, school officials will be less likely
to give the problem the attention and resources it needs; 2) underreporting may lull potential
victims into a false sense of security and cause them to fail to take the precautions to protect
themselves from sexual assault that they would take if they were aware of the true number;
and 3) if a rape goes unreported, the rapist experiences no negative consequences for his
behavior and is not only free to rape again, but may even feel encouraged to do so.
29. Eric is a member of MVP, which is a unique program in that it ________.
e. is designed to assist women who have been victims of male violence
f. works with men to raise awareness of sexual violence and promote dialogue
g. is a mental health program for perpetrators
h. works with college counselors to assist sexual assault survivors
Answer: B
Rationale:
MVP is a program that works with men to raise awareness of sexual violence and promote
dialogue.
30. Do warning signs exist that might alert a woman if an acquaintance or date might by a
potential rapist? According to the text, the answer is ________.
e. absolutely
f. maybe
g. yes
h. no
Answer: B
Rationale:
men who rape share some of the same characteristics, attitudes, and behavior patterns, but
“profiling” has not been shown to be an effective rape prevention strategy.
31. Jane knows she should be extra careful if the man she is seeing displays any of the
following, except ________.
e. a need to dominate and control
f. is emotionally abusive
g. has close friendships with other males
h. discounts her opinions
Answer: C
Rationale:
A woman should be extra careful if the man she is seeing seems to need to dominate or
control, is emotionally abusive, or discounts her opinion.
32. If Karen is like many rape survivors, her first reaction is ________.
e. denial and withdrawal
f. suicide or suicidal thoughts
g. anger and grief
h. self-blame
Answer: A
Rationale:
Denial and withdrawal are common first reactions of rape survivors.
33. Guidelines for rape survivors include all of the following except ________.
i. preserve evidence
j. report the assault
k. obtain medical attention
l. don’t talk to anybody about it
Answer: D
Rationale:
Guidelines for rape survivors include such things as preserve the evidence, report the assault,
and obtain medical attention.
34. Patricia has been experiencing a whole host of symptoms following her rape. This has
been defined as ________.
i. rape trauma syndrome
j. psychotic depression
k. rape sensitivity symptoms
l. rape recovery syndrome
Answer: A
Rationale:
Rape trauma syndrome refers to a set of symptoms that follow the trauma of being raped.
35. The symptoms accompanying the trauma of rape may be divided into several phases,
including all of the following except ________.
i. anticipatory phase
j. impact phase
k. reconstitution phase
l. regret phase
Answer: D
Rationale:
The trauma of rape may be divided into several phases: the anticipatory phase, the impact
phase, the recoil phase, and the reconstitution phase.
36. It is clear to Megan’s sexual assault counselor that she is in the recoil phase, which is
characterized by all of the following except ________.
a. realizing that a rape has occurred
b. sleep disturbance
c. appetite and digestion problems
d. pains and symptoms related to the attack
Answer: A
Rationale:
The recoil phase is characterized by sleep disturbances, appetite and digestion problems, and
pains and symptoms related to the attack.
37. Something characteristic of a survivor in the reconstitution phase might be to ________.
a. move away
b. get a dog
c. install alarms
d. all of the above
Answer: D
Rationale:
The reconstitution phase includes changes in lifestyle such as moving away, getting a dog,
and installing alarms.
38. Sue is attending a sexual assault prevention class. She is likely to learn that prevention
strategies for safety when dating include all of the following except ________.
a. avoid isolated areas
b. find out where you are going, what time you will be home, and tell someone
c. be aware of your decreased ability to react under the influence of alcohol or other drugs
d. tell your date you know they might be a rapist
Answer: D
Rationale:
Prevention strategies include such things as avoiding isolated areas, telling someone where
you are going and when you will be home, and being aware of your decreased ability to react
under the influence of alcohol.
39. In terms of safety when dating, all of the following were included in the list of strategies,
except ________.
a. never leave a party with a man you do not know well
b. never agree to have sex on the first date
c. go to parties and social events with friends, and agree to keep an eye on each other
d. trust your intuition
Answer: B
Rationale:
Some rape prevention strategies include never leave a party with a man you do not know
well, got o parties with friends and keep and eye on each other, and trust your intuition.
40. Heather has obtained a brochure on prevention strategies for safety at home. It is likely to
include all of the following except ________.
a. women should only list their last name and initials in the phone directory
b. be sure to lock your doors when you are home
c. leave a light on at night
d. only have male roommates
Answer: D
Rationale:
Prevention strategies for safety at home include women should only list their last name and
first initial in the phone directory, be sure to lock your doors, and leave a light on at night.
41. In terms of safety at home, all of the following were included in the list of strategies,
except ________.
a. if a door or window is found forced or broken while you are away, call out to see if
someone is there before entering
b. do not leave your name or any unnecessary details about yourself or whereabouts on the
answering machine
c. if a stranger asks to use your phone, do not let them in your home; make the call for them
d. keep emergency phone numbers posted for easy access; use 911
Answer: A
Rationale:
Examples of safety strategies at home include 1) do not leave your name or any unnecessary
details about yourself or whereabouts on the answering machine, 2) if a stranger asks to use
your phone, do not let them in your home; make the call for them, and 3) keep emergency
phone numbers posted for easy access; use 911.
42. Carol has attended a special workshop on personal safety. She is likely to learn that
prevention strategies for safety while walking include all of the following except ________.
a. be aware and alert
b. walk near the curb and avoid passing close to shrubbery
c. avoid shortcuts through isolated areas
d. always take the same route home
Answer: D
Rationale:
Examples of safety strategies for walking include being aware and alert, walk near the curb,
and avoid shortcuts through isolated areas.
43. In terms of safety while walking, all of the following were included in the list of
strategies, except ________.
a. have your keys ready in your hand so that your house or car can be opened immediately
b. avoid eye contact with strangers
c. get to know the areas where you are likely to be walking
d. when coming home in some else’s car, ask the driver to wait until you are safely inside
Answer: B
Rationale:
Examples of safety strategies for walking include 1) have your keys ready in your hand so
that your house or car can be opened immediately, 2) get to know the areas where you are
likely to be walking, and 3) when coming home in some else’s car, ask the driver to wait until
you are safely inside.
44. Prevention strategies for safety while driving include all of the following except
________.
a. check under your car and in the back seat before entering
b. keep windows closed and doors locked at all times
c. when possible, travel on well-lighted streets
d. honking your horn to draw attention
Answer: D
Rationale:
Safety strategies when driving include such things as 1) check under your car and in the back
seat before entering, 2) keep windows closed and doors locked at all times, and 3) when
possible, travel on well-lighted streets.
45. In terms of what men can do to prevent rape, all of the following were suggestions in the
text except ________.
a. do not make comments or treat women like sex objects
b. do not try to get women drunk for sexual manipulation
c. if you know or suspect that a rape is being committed, intervene to stop it
d. try to get her to say yes before proceeding sexually
Answer: D
Rationale:
Examples of things men can do include: 1) do not make comments or treat women like sex
objects, 2) do not try to get women drunk for sexual manipulation, and 3) if you know or
suspect that a rape is being committed, intervene to stop it.
46. Peter is part of the Men Against Rape Program on his campus. In the poster his group is
designing, it lists suggestions for what men can do to prevent rape. It includes all of the
following except ________.
a. remember “no” means “no” and if you’re not sure, ask her
b. never assume she wants the same amount of intimacy as you do
c. if she has had anything to drink, do not have intercourse with her
d. be sensitive to the size and strength advantage you probably have over most women
Answer: C
Rationale:
Examples of what men can do to prevent rape include 1) remember “no” means “no” and if
you’re not sure, ask her, 2) never assume she wants the same amount of intimacy as you do,
and 3) be sensitive to the size and strength advantage you probably have over most women.
47. Childhood sexual abuse falls into all the following categories except ________.
a. pedophilia
b. child molestation
c. incest
d. pornography
Answer: D
Rationale:
Childhood sexual abuse falls into a variety of categories, including pedophilia, child
molestation, and incest.
48. ________ is a psychological disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable sexual
compulsions involving children.
a. Pedophilia
b. Child molestation
c. Incest
d. Preference molesters
Answer: A
Rationale:
Pedophilia is a psychological disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable sexual
compulsions involving children.
49. Sexual acts with a child by an adult or a much older child is called ________.
a. pedophilia
b. child molestation
c. incest
d. preference molesters
Answer: B
Rationale:
Child molestation is sexual acts with a child by an adult or a much older child.
50. ________ involves a perpetrator who is a family relative such as a parent, aunt, uncle,
grandparent, brother, or sister.
a. Pedophilia
b. Child molestation
c. Incest
d. Preference molesters
Answer: C
Rationale:
Incest involves a perpetrator who is a family relative such as a parent, aunt, uncle,
grandparent, brother, or sister.
51. Gordon’s health class is discussing child sexual abuse. He is likely to learn that all of the
following are true when it comes to child sexual abuse, except ________.
a. it is more likely to be a stranger than in an adult rape situation
b. it is an expression of power and control over someone of weaker status
c. child sexual abusers rely on their position of greater power and threats of punishment
d. the vast majority of abusers are male
Answer: A
Rationale:
Some things we know about child sexual abuse include that it is an expression of power and
control over someone of weaker status, child abusers rely on their position of greater power
and threats of punishment, and the vast majority are male.
52. What we know about the child sexual abuser includes all the following except ________.
a. most are male
b. they are more likely to have been sexually abused as children
c. they tend to be shy and emotionally immature
d. they are addicted to pornography
Answer: D
Rationale:
Some things we know about the child sexual abuser is that most are male, they may have
been victims of child sexual abuse as well, and they tend to be shy and emotionally immature.
53. A 2008 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported than
nearly ________ children were new victims of sexual abuse in 2006.
a. 800
b. 8,000
c. 80,000
d. 800, 000
Answer: C
Rationale:
Nearly 80,000 children were new victims of sexual abuse in 2006.
54. All of the following are effects of child sexual abuse except ________.
a. emotional or psychological disorders
b. relationship problems
c. physical or medical complaints
d. the need to be protective of one’s parents
Answer: D
Rationale:
The effects of child sexual abuse can lead to emotional or psychological disorders,
relationship problems, and physical or medical complaints.
55. Nora and Ben are both survivors of child sexual abuse. Examples of things that cause
them emotional distress most likely include all of the following except that ________.
a. the abuse was somehow their fault
b. they didn’t report the abuser
c. due to their silence, no one rescued them
d. they told someone
Answer: D
Rationale:
The victim of child sexual abuse may experience emotional distress that the abuse was
somehow their fault, that they did not report the abuser, or that due to their silence no one
rescued them.
56. One study found that, on average, the time span between the end of the sexual abuse and
the survivor’s disclosure of it was ________.
a. 4 years
b. 6 years
c. 14 years
d. 25 years
Answer: C
Rationale:
The time span average between the end of sexual abuse and disclosure is 14 years.
57. Jackie is seeking counseling for child sexual abuse issues. She is feeling powerless at
times. Her counselor explains that when we feel powerless and unable to control our own
destinies, we invariably suffer a wide range of psychological disorders, most notably
________.
a. anxiety
b. depression
c. guilt
d. shame
Answer: B
Rationale:
Feeling powerless can lead to depression.
58. The documented effects of sexual abuse on children include all of the following except
________.
a. self-destructive behaviors
b. alcohol and other drug abuse
c. perpetual stealing
d. anxiety, panic, phobia
Answer: C
Rationale:
The effects of child sexual abuse can include self-destructive behaviors, alcohol and other
drug abuse, and issues of anxiety, panic, and phobia.
59. Penny is a survivor of child sexual abuse. Over the years she has found herself reliving
the abuse (“flashbacks”), avoiding situations, thoughts, and feelings related to the abuse
“emotional numbing,” sleep disturbances, a heightened startle response, “hypervigilance,”
and difficulty concentrating. Her counselor says she is suffering from ________.
a. post-traumatic stress disorder
b. psychotic depression
c. emotional outburst
d. rape desensitization syndrome
Answer: A
Rationale:
Post-traumatic stress disorder is characterized by reliving the abuse (“flashbacks”), avoiding
situations, thoughts, and feelings related to the abuse, “emotional numbing,” sleep
disturbances, a heightened startle response, “hypervigilance,” and difficulty concentrating.
60. As a survivor of child sexual abuse, Tom is likely to experience all of the following
relationship issues except ________.
a. emotional distance
b. less trust
c. lack of enjoyment in sex
d. sexual sensitivity
Answer: D
Rationale:
Survivors of child sexual abuse may experience relationship issues such as emotional
distance, less trust, and lack of enjoyment in sex.
61. All of the following are examples of relationship issues that are found more commonly
among child sexual abuse survivors than the general population, except ________.
a. lack of enjoyment in sex
b. forcing sex on a partner
c. less promiscuity
d. anxiety over sexual performance
Answer: C
Rationale:
Survivors of child sexual abuse my experience relationship issues such as lack of enjoyment
in sex, forcing sex on a partner, and anxiety over sexual performance.
62. As a survivor of child sexual abuse, Patti is likely to experience all of the following
medical consequences except ________.
a. alcoholism
b. obesity
c. eating disorders
d. wrinkled skin
Answer: D
Rationale:
Examples of medical consequences of child sexual abuse include alcoholism, obesity, and
eating disorders.
63. Success rates in the treatment of child molesters have been ________.
a. nonexistent
b. extremely poor
c. moderately successful
d. very successful
Answer: B
Rationale:
Success rates for the treatment of child molesters have been extremely poor.
64. Chemical castration refers to injection of ________.
a. testosterone
b. female hormones
c. sperm-killing agents
d. tranquilizers
Answer: B
Rationale:
Chemical castration refers to injection of female hormones.
65. Megan’s law requires ________.
a. local communities to be notified when sex offenders are residing there
b. police to have regular contact with sex offenders
c. sex offenders to have chemical castration
d. that prison terms for sex offenders be increased to more than five years
Answer: A
Rationale:
Megan’s law requires local communities to be notified when sex offenders are residing there.
66. As an elementary teacher, Ms. Smith’s child abuse prevention program most likely
includes all of the following except ________.
a. good-touch, bad-touch awareness
b. helping children understand that they have a right to say no if anyone attempts to touch
them inappropriately
c. telling children that they are responsible for stopping the abuse
d. impressing upon children the importance of telling a trusted adult if anyone touches them
in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable
Answer: C
Rationale:
Child sexual abuse prevention programs include such things as 1) good-touch, bad-touch
awareness, 2) helping children understand that they have a right to say no if anyone attempts
to touch them inappropriately, and 3) impressing upon children the importance of telling a
trusted adult if anyone touches them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.
67. Sexual harassment in the workplace falls into two categories: quid pro quo and ________.
a. pseudo-sexual harassment
b. pressure to laugh at provocative jokes or pictures
c. creation of a hostile environment
d. provision of favors in exchange for sexual involvement
Answer: C
Rationale:
Sexual harassment in the work place can be quid pro quo and creation of a hostile
environment.
68. Approximately ________ of adolescent boys and girls report experiencing sexual
harassment from their peers, and most of it occurs right under the noses of their teachers.
a. 15%
b. 40%
c. 55%
d. 80%
Answer: D
Rationale:
Approximately 80% of adolescents report experiencing harassment from their peers.
69. Shirley learns that in terms of steps to take if you are the victim of sexual harassment, all
of the following are suggested except ________.
a. say NO in very clear terms
b. talk to others you can trust about your experience
c. keep a record of every incident
d. call the police to have the person arrested
Answer: D
Rationale:
Some steps one might take if experiencing sexual harassment include say NO in very clear
terms, talk to others you can trust about your experience, and keep a record of every incident.
TRUE-FALSE
1. Garrison is studying the laws on sexual assault. The current legal status is clear: one
advantage of being married is that he cannot rape his wife.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false because marital rape is a recognized crime in most jurisdictions. Being
married does not grant immunity to a spouse from being charged with or prosecuted for rape.
Laws have evolved to recognize that consent is required in all sexual interactions, including
those within a marriage.
2. The rape of a woman by her husband is still seen by most states as somehow “less serious”
compared to rape by an acquaintance or stranger.
Answer: True
Rationale:
Unfortunately, in many jurisdictions, there is still a perception that marital rape is less serious
than rape by a stranger or acquaintance. This perception can lead to leniency in sentencing or
difficulty in prosecuting cases of marital rape.
3. Andrea was not only raped by her husband, but she was also beaten. She discovers that this
is not unusual. In terms of marital rape, it often occurs as part of a larger pattern of violence
in the relationship.
Answer: True
Rationale:
Marital rape often occurs within the context of domestic violence. The use of physical
violence alongside sexual assault is not uncommon in abusive relationships. Victims may
endure both physical and sexual abuse from their partners.
4. Most rapes are committed by strangers.
Answer: False
Rationale:
Contrary to popular belief, most rapes are not committed by strangers. Statistics consistently
show that the majority of sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone known to the victim,
such as a spouse, partner, family member, friend, or acquaintance.
5. The definition of rape varies from state to state.
Answer: True
Rationale:
The legal definition of rape can vary significantly from one jurisdiction to another. While
there are general principles that define rape, such as lack of consent, the specific elements
and classifications of the crime may differ between states or countries.
6. Most states now include in their legal definition of rape such things as forced penetration
by objects other than a penis and penetration of the anus and mouth in addition to the vagina.
Answer: True
Rationale:
Many jurisdictions have expanded their legal definitions of rape to encompass a broader
range of sexual acts beyond vaginal intercourse. This includes forced penetration by objects
or body parts other than a penis, as well as penetration of other bodily orifices such as the
anus and mouth.
7. Rape is one of the most emotionally, psychologically, and physically devastating traumas
anyone can experience.
Answer: True
Rationale:
Rape can have profound and long-lasting effects on survivors, encompassing emotional,
psychological, and physical trauma. The experience of sexual assault can shatter a person's
sense of safety, trust, and self-worth, leading to a range of mental health issues such as PTSD,
depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
8. Steve is studying the topic of men and rape. According to the research, men cannot be
raped.
Answer: False
Rationale:
Men can indeed be victims of rape. While societal stereotypes may suggest otherwise, sexual
assault can and does happen to individuals of all genders. Male victims of rape may face
unique challenges in reporting their experiences due to stigma and misconceptions about
masculinity and sexual victimization.
9. Men are more likely than women to be raped by a stranger.
Answer: False
Rationale:
Contrary to this statement, statistics indicate that men are more likely to be sexually assaulted
by someone they know rather than by a stranger. This holds true for both male and female
victims, as acquaintance rape is more prevalent than stranger rape across genders.
10. As demonstrated by the exercise presented in the textbook, “Daily Precautions Taken to
Prevent Being Sexually Assaulted or Raped,” women must maintain nearly constant vigilance
against the threat of rape, while men, it seems, rarely give it a thought.
Answer: True
Rationale:
Societal expectations often place the burden of preventing sexual assault on women, leading
to a culture of victim-blaming and the perpetuation of myths about rape. Women are
frequently advised to take precautionary measures to avoid being raped, while men may not
feel the same pressure or concern about their safety in similar situations.
11. When learning about the kind of people who commit rape, Ken learns that most rapists
are sexually deprived.
Answer: False
Rationale:
Research indicates that the motivations behind rape are complex and varied, and they do not
necessarily stem from sexual deprivation. Rapists come from diverse backgrounds and may
have different motivations for their actions, including a desire for power, control, dominance,
and a lack of empathy towards their victims.
12. Research has found that women encourage rape by their dress and actions.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement perpetuates a harmful myth known as victim-blaming, which wrongly places
responsibility for sexual assault on the victim rather than the perpetrator. Research
consistently shows that a person's clothing or behavior is not a justification for rape. Rape is
solely the responsibility of the perpetrator, and no one ever "asks for" or deserves to be
sexually assaulted based on their appearance or actions.
13. Men who rape simply lose control of their sexual urges.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false. Rape is not about loss of control over sexual urges; it is a deliberate
act of violence and domination. Perpetrators make conscious choices to commit rape, and it is
not simply a result of uncontrollable sexual desires.
14. Most rapists are not sex-deprived and many have an ongoing relationship with a
consensual sexual partner.
Answer: True
Rationale:
Contrary to the misconception that rapists are sexually deprived individuals, research
suggests that many rapists have regular sexual relationships and do not lack consensual
sexual opportunities. Rape is often about power, control, and aggression rather than sexual
gratification.
15. As a male, Tom knows it is just part of human nature for guys to force sex on a woman. It
is just how guys are made.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false and perpetuates a harmful myth. Rape is not a natural or inherent
behavior of men. It is a violent crime and a violation of another person's autonomy and rights.
Such beliefs contribute to rape culture and excuse perpetrators' behavior.
16. Men who rape are mentally ill.
Answer: False
Rationale:
While some perpetrators of rape may have mental health issues, the majority of rapists do not
meet the criteria for mental illness. Rape is primarily a crime of power and control rather than
a symptom of mental illness. Labeling rapists as mentally ill can perpetuate stigma and
misconceptions about mental health.
17. Jessie’s class is learning the myths versus truths about rape. According to the research, a
truth is that women secretly want to be raped.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false and dangerous. There is no truth to the idea that women secretly desire
or consent to rape. Rape is a traumatic experience that no one wants or asks for, regardless of
gender.
18. Any woman can resist if she really wants to.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false and reflects a misunderstanding of the dynamics of sexual assault.
Resistance to rape is not always possible or safe for victims. Factors such as physical
strength, threats, coercion, and fear can make it difficult or impossible for someone to resist
an assailant.
19. A statistical crime report by the campus police verifies what has been known for a long
time: False reports of rape are much more common than for other types of crimes.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false. Research consistently shows that false reports of rape are no more
common than false reports of other crimes. The prevalence of false reporting for rape is
relatively low, and the majority of reported cases are genuine.
20. Janice was raped one evening when walking home from the library. Her assailant was a
stranger who jumped out from behind the bushes. Her experience - in terms of being raped by
a stranger - is typical.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false. While stranger rape does occur, it is not the most common scenario.
Most rapes are perpetrated by someone known to the victim, such as a friend, acquaintance,
partner, or family member.
21. When Wendy came forward to say she was raped, three other women contacted her to say
they had also been assaulted by the same guy. This supports Lisak and Miller’s research that
found, of the men who had committed rape, 63% had committed an average of six rapes.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true and aligns with research conducted by Lisak and Miller, which found
that a majority of rapes are committed by a relatively small number of repeat offenders.
These repeat offenders are responsible for a significant portion of sexual assaults.
22. According to the text, rape is a widespread and serious problem on college campuses.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Research consistently shows that sexual assault, including rape, is a
prevalent issue on college campuses worldwide. Colleges and universities have been under
scrutiny for their handling of sexual assault cases and efforts to prevent such incidents.
23. Billy was drinking when he sexually assaulted someone at the campus party. According to
the research, alcohol use by the victim or perpetrator is involved in the majority of all college
rapes.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Research indicates that alcohol consumption is often involved in
college sexual assaults, whether by the perpetrator, the victim, or both. Alcohol can impair
judgment, lower inhibitions, and increase the risk of sexual violence.
24. At the party, the guys kept feeding Karen drinks to the point where she was incapacitated.
She was sexually assaulted later that night by these same guys. Research has found that
alcohol is increasingly considered a date rape drug.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Alcohol is frequently used as a tool to facilitate sexual assault, and
incapacitating someone with alcohol in order to perpetrate rape is a common tactic. In some
cases, alcohol is referred to as a "date rape drug" because of its role in facilitating sexual
violence.
25. Arlene remembers everything at the party up until her classmate Phil handed her a new
drink. The next thing she knew she was waking up in his bed the next morning. According to
the research on what happens to someone when they consume a drink containing a date rape
drug, her drink may have contained a date rape drug.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Date rape drugs such as Rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine are often
odorless and tasteless, making them difficult to detect when added to a drink. Victims may
experience memory loss, confusion, dizziness, and loss of consciousness after ingesting such
drugs.
26. The campus police released a new report showing that no rapes were reported on campus
last year. Students are relieved. According to research on reporting of sexual assaults, this
report means no one was raped on their campus.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false. The absence of reported rapes does not necessarily mean that no rapes
occurred on campus. Underreporting of sexual assaults is a common issue, and many victims
may hesitate to come forward due to fear, shame, or concerns about how their report will be
handled.
27. Reporting is most common for acquaintance rape, since the woman is able to identify her
assailant.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false. Reporting rates for acquaintance rape are often lower than for stranger
rape. Victims of acquaintance rape may face additional barriers to reporting, such as disbelief,
victim-blaming, fear of retaliation, or concerns about damage to relationships with the
perpetrator or mutual acquaintances.
28. Men who rape rarely do so only once.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Research indicates that many perpetrators of rape are repeat offenders
who have committed multiple assaults. These individuals may continue to perpetrate sexual
violence unless they are stopped by intervention, prosecution, or other preventive measures.
29. Although historically seen as creating an environment where rape was tolerated or even
encouraged, today many fraternities and athletic sports programs have begun to take steps to
reduce the incidence of rape.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Fraternities and sports teams have often been associated with a culture
of hypermasculinity, alcohol abuse, and sexual entitlement, which can contribute to sexual
violence. However, many organizations are now implementing educational programs,
bystander intervention training, and policies to address and prevent rape within their
communities.
30. What is important to know is that you can readily predict who is most likely to rape.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false. While certain risk factors may be associated with an increased
likelihood of committing sexual violence, such as a history of violence or substance abuse,
predicting who will commit rape with certainty is not possible. Rape is a complex behavior
influenced by a variety of individual, social, and situational factors.
31. Rape trauma syndrome refers to a set of symptoms that follow the trauma of being raped,
consisting of the physical, emotional, and behavioral stress reactions.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Rape trauma syndrome is a psychological response to rape or sexual
assault that encompasses a range of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. These
symptoms may include anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, physical pain, and
changes in behavior or relationships.
32. Men who rape are typically insecure and believe in the myth that sexual aggression is a
way to express their masculinity to themselves and to their peers.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Research has shown that perpetrators of sexual violence often hold
beliefs about masculinity that prioritize dominance, control, and aggression. These
individuals may use sexual violence as a means to assert power and establish their
masculinity in the eyes of themselves and others.
33. Child sexual abusers typically use violence or physical force to achieve their goals.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false. While some perpetrators of child sexual abuse may use violence or
physical force, many exploit their positions of trust and authority to manipulate and groom
their victims. Child sexual abuse often involves coercion, manipulation, and psychological
tactics rather than overt physical force.
34. The child’s motivation to keep the abuse secret may be an integral part of the abuser’s
tactics; for example, the abuser convincing the child that telling anyone will cause trouble
and the child will be punished.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Perpetrators of child sexual abuse often employ tactics to maintain
secrecy and control over their victims. This can include threats, manipulation, and convincing
the child that disclosing the abuse will result in negative consequences, such as punishment
or disbelief.
35. Intimate relationship problems are the most commonly encountered aftereffects of child
sexual abuse.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Child sexual abuse can have profound and long-lasting effects on
survivors, including difficulties in forming and maintaining intimate relationships. Survivors
may struggle with trust, intimacy, communication, and self-esteem, which can impact their
ability to engage in healthy relationships.
36. Increased promiscuity is seen more frequently in survivors of child sexual abuse.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Some survivors of child sexual abuse may engage in increased sexual
activity or risky sexual behaviors as a coping mechanism or as a result of trauma-related
issues such as low self-esteem, boundary confusion, or difficulty establishing healthy
relationships.
37. Survivors of child sexual abuse tend to be at both extremes in terms of medical care from
avoidance of routine medical care to over-use of medical services.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Survivors of child sexual abuse may exhibit a range of health-seeking
behaviors in response to their trauma. Some may avoid medical care due to fear, shame, or
distrust of authority figures, while others may engage in overutilization of medical services as
a way to cope with physical or psychological symptoms.
38. Very few penal systems offer therapy to offenders, and upon release, repeat offending
may occur.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Many penal systems lack adequate resources for providing therapy or
rehabilitation to offenders of sexual violence. Without appropriate treatment and support,
some offenders may be at higher risk of reoffending upon release from incarceration.
39. Studies have suggested that when children participate in school or home-based child
abuse prevention programs, they are more likely to be victimized.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false. Research has not found evidence to support the idea that participation
in child abuse prevention programs increases the likelihood of victimization. Prevention
programs typically aim to empower children with knowledge and skills to recognize and
report abuse, which can help reduce their vulnerability to victimization.
40. Sexual harassment is usually a charge made for the occasional inappropriate joke,
innocent flirtation, or a single friendly touch.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false. Sexual harassment involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for
sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile or
intimidating environment. It is not limited to isolated incidents or harmless behavior but
encompasses a pattern of behavior that is offensive and unwanted.
41. Sexual harassment can only occur between two people of unequal social power, such as
supervisor-subordinate or professor-student.
Answer: False
Rationale:
This statement is false. Sexual harassment can occur in any relationship or setting, regardless
of the social power dynamics between the individuals involved. While harassment by
someone in a position of authority is particularly concerning due to the potential for abuse of
power, harassment can also occur between peers or in other contexts.
42. Peer sexual harassment is relatively uncommon in the elementary grades, but appears to
increase dramatically through the middle- and high-school years.
Answer: True
Rationale:
This statement is true. Peer sexual harassment may become more prevalent as children reach
adolescence and become more aware of social norms and expectations around gender and
sexuality. Factors such as increased socialization, exposure to media, and changes in social
dynamics can contribute to the rise in peer sexual harassment during middle and high school.
SHORT ANSWER
1. As if 2008, ________ states continue to treat a husband who rapes his wife less severely
than other rapists.
Answer: 30
Rationale:
As of 2008, 30 states in the United States continued to have laws that treated marital rape less
severely than other forms of rape. This discrepancy in legal treatment highlights a persistent
issue in the legal system's approach to marital rape.
2. Laws against marital rape began changing in ________.
Answer: the late 1970s
Rationale:
Changes in laws against marital rape started occurring in the late 1970s, indicating a shift in
societal attitudes and legal frameworks recognizing marital rape as a crime rather than a
spousal entitlement.
3. In terms of marital rape, women often blame ________ for the attacks and erroneously
assume that what they are experiencing is rare.
Answer: themselves
Rationale:
Victims of marital rape often internalize blame, leading them to attribute responsibility to
themselves for the assaults. This self-blame can stem from societal stigmas surrounding rape
and misconceptions about its prevalence within marriage.
4. Rape encompasses certain forms of unwanted sexual acts that fall under a larger category
of ________.
Answer: sexual assault
Rationale:
Rape is a subset of sexual assault, encompassing various non-consensual sexual acts.
Understanding this distinction is crucial in addressing sexual violence comprehensively
within legal and social contexts.
5. Rape usually has little to do with ________.
Answer: sex
Rationale:
Rape is primarily an act of power, control, and violence rather than a manifestation of sexual
desire or attraction. Recognizing this fact is essential in debunking myths surrounding rape
and understanding its true nature.
6. Statistics on male rape are thought to be unreliable because ________ and ________.
Answer: Men may feel a greater sense of shame and stigma; more men than women may
choose not to report being raped
Rationale:
Male rape is often underreported due to factors such as societal perceptions of masculinity,
which may lead male victims to feel ashamed or reluctant to report their experiences.
Additionally, cultural norms and gender stereotypes may discourage men from coming
forward as victims of sexual assault.
7. ________ place the blame on the victim and absolve the perpetrator.
Answer: Rape myths
Rationale:
Rape myths perpetuate false beliefs and misconceptions about sexual violence, often placing
blame on the victim while excusing the actions of the perpetrator. These myths contribute to
victim blaming and hinder efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
8. The only person, who can, by definition, cause a rape is ________.
Answer: the rapist
Rationale:
Rape is a deliberate act of non-consensual sexual activity initiated by the perpetrator. It is
essential to emphasize that the responsibility for rape lies solely with the perpetrator,
regardless of any circumstances or actions of the victim.
9. Most rapes are committed by ________.
Answer: someone known to the victim
Rationale:
Contrary to common misconceptions, most rapes are perpetrated by individuals known to the
victim, such as acquaintances, partners, or family members. This underscores the importance
of challenging stereotypes about stranger rape and recognizing the prevalence of
acquaintance rape.
10. Alcohol should never be seen as ________ rape.
Answer: causing
Rationale:
While alcohol consumption may impair judgment and increase vulnerability, it does not cause
rape. Rape is solely the result of a perpetrator's decision to commit a non-consensual sexual
act. Blaming alcohol for rape shifts responsibility away from the perpetrator and perpetuates
victim-blaming attitudes.
11. _______ are powerful sedatives that render a potential victim either unconscious or
unable to move.
Answer: Date rape drugs
Rationale:
Date rape drugs, such as Rohypnol and GHB, are substances that can be used to incapacitate
individuals, making them vulnerable to sexual assault. These drugs are often surreptitiously
administered, highlighting the importance of awareness and prevention efforts.
12. The campus police say no rapes were reported on campus last year, but research would
suggest this does not mean there were no rapes because rape is one of the most ________
crimes in the United States.
Answer: underreported
Rationale:
Rape is significantly underreported, with many victims choosing not to disclose their
experiences to authorities due to fear, shame, or distrust of the criminal justice system.
Therefore, the absence of reported rapes does not necessarily reflect the true prevalence of
sexual violence within a community or institution.
13. The first reaction of many rape victims is often ________.
Answer: denial and withdrawal
Rationale:
Denial and withdrawal are common initial responses among rape victims as they may
struggle to accept or process the traumatic experience. This reaction can stem from shock,
disbelief, and an overwhelming desire to distance oneself from the trauma.
14. The set of symptoms that typically follow the trauma of being raped, consisting of
physical, emotional, and behavioral stress reactions, has been defined as ________.
Answer: rape trauma syndrome
Rationale:
Rape trauma syndrome encompasses a range of physical, emotional, and behavioral
responses experienced by individuals following a rape or sexual assault. This syndrome helps
to understand and identify common reactions among survivors of sexual violence.
15. The three categories of childhood sexual abuse include: ________, ________, and
________.
Answer: pedophilia; child molestation; incest
Rationale:
These three categories represent different forms of sexual abuse involving minors. Pedophilia
refers to the sexual attraction to children, child molestation involves the sexual abuse of
children, and incest involves sexual activity between family members.
16. Some of the emotions a victim of child sexual abuse may experience include ________ ,
________, ________, ________, ________, ________, and ________.
Answer: anger, poor self-esteem, self-blame, shame, guilt, isolation, and loneliness
Rationale:
Victims of child sexual abuse often experience a complex array of emotions including anger,
shame, guilt, and isolation, which can profoundly impact their psychological well-being and
sense of self-worth.
17. All 50 states now have child molester notification laws, commonly referred to as
________.
Answer: Megan’s law
Rationale:
Megan's Law requires law enforcement authorities to make information about registered sex
offenders available to the public, including details about their whereabouts and criminal
history. These laws aim to enhance public safety and awareness regarding individuals
convicted of sex crimes.
18. ________ refers to a pattern of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or
other verbal and physical conduct that is coercive or creates a hostile work or educational
environment.
Answer: Sexual harassment
Rationale:
Sexual harassment encompasses various forms of unwelcome sexual behavior, including
verbal comments, physical gestures, or requests for sexual favors, that create a hostile or
intimidating environment for the victim. This behavior is prohibited by law and workplace or
educational institution policies.
19. One major national survey conducted in 2005 found that over ________ of both men and
women students reported at least one incident of being sexually harassed at their college or
university.
Answer: 60%
Rationale:
The statistic underscores the prevalence of sexual harassment on college and university
campuses, affecting a significant portion of both male and female students. This finding
highlights the importance of addressing and preventing sexual misconduct within educational
settings.
20. Today most colleges and universities have policies that limit or outright forbid faculty
from ________.
Answer: engaging in sexual relationships with students
Rationale:
Such policies aim to prevent the abuse of power dynamics and potential exploitation in
relationships between faculty or staff and students. Prohibiting such relationships helps to
maintain professional boundaries and protect students from potential harm or coercion.
21. Most sexual harassment on campuses is ________, so proving it is difficult.
Answer: hidden and insidious
Rationale:
Sexual harassment on campuses often occurs in subtle or covert ways, making it challenging
to identify and prove. This hidden and insidious nature of sexual harassment can contribute to
victims feeling silenced or invalidated, further exacerbating the issue.
ESSAY
1. Discuss at least five common rape myths, and discuss why they are untrue.
MYTH: Women encourage rape by their dress and actions.
TRUTH: Can you think one reason anyone would want to be raped? Of course not. A woman
may dress and behave in certain ways because she is interested in appearing sexually
attractive or wants to meet someone for consensual sex. But no one wants to be raped.
MYTH: Men who rape simply lose control over their sexual urges.
TRUTH: There are two main problems with this way of thinking. First, rape is not primarily a
sexual act. It is the rapist’s attempt to exert power and control over a victim through force,
coercion, and violence. Most rapists are not sex-deprived, and many have an ongoing
relationship with a consensual sexual partner. Furthermore, when people commit other crimes
involving violence, we do not attempt to excuse their acts because, as men, they are unable to
control their violent urges. Second, if men really were helpless puppets of their sexual urges,
rape would be more universal than it is. Although rape is all too common, men with healthy
sexual drives do not rape.
MYTH: Men who rape are mentally ill.
TRUTH: Although some rapists may have psychopathic tendencies, or other psychological
disorders, mental illness among rapists are no more common that among the population in
general. The vast majority of rapes, 80 to 90 percent in fact, are committed by someone the
victim knows, is dating, or is involved with in a romantic relationship. Believing that rapists
are mentally ill leads to a dangerous perception that potential rapists can be identified by their
deviant behavior. This may lull potential victims into a false sense of safety with
acquaintances, dates, or partners who are clearly not mentally ill but with whom the threat of
rape is, statistically, the greatest.
MYTH: Women secretly want to be raped.
TRUTH: Although it is true that some women have reported fantasies involving rape and that
such fantasies are sometimes exploited in various media, this in no way implies that women
want to be raped in real life. First of all, many people entertain fantasies, sexual or otherwise,
that they would never want to happen in reality. Furthermore, in a fantasy of forced sex, the
fantasizer knows that it is not real and that she is not at any real risk of bodily harm. In
fantasy, the fantasizer is in control, whereas in a real rape, all control is taken away by the
rapist. Most women who fantasize about being raped actually maintain control in the fantasy
by luring or seducing the pretend “attacker” and playing the role of victim, knowing she is
ultimately in control of the entire episode.
MYTH: Any woman can resist if she really wants to.
TRUTH: This myth is full of flaws. First, men, on the whole, are physically stronger and
heavier than women and are capable of pinning a woman down, forcibly removing her
clothes, and penetrating her. Beyond this, however, rapists use threats of violence, actual
violence such as hitting and punching, and weapons to create a situation in which fighting
back is obviously futile and to intimidate their victims into submission. In addition, some
rapists commonly prey on women who are unable to resist due to extreme alcohol or other
drug intoxication.
MYTH: Women falsely accuse men of rape.
TRUTH: The false reporting of rape is no more common than the false reporting of any
violent crime; it is very rare. When it does happen, the woman nearly always recants before
the crime is prosecuted. The exact opposite of this myth appears to be true. Many survivors of
rape choose not to report the crime to authorities because of shame, guilt, fear of retaliation,
or confusion over whether what happened to them was truly rape.
MYTH: Most rapes are committed by strangers.
TRUTH: The vast majority of the assailants are known to the victim—they are friends,
classmates, acquaintances, boyfriends, husbands (or ex-husbands), or other family members.
Rapes committed by strangers are terrible and traumatic (as are all rapes), but they are the
exception, not the rule. The perception that rape as primarily committed by strangers can
interfere with the important awareness of the much larger problem of rapes committed by
men victims already know.
MYTH: All men are capable of rape.
TRUTH: The vast majority of men have not and would never engage in any sexually
assaultive behaviors, including rape.
MYTH: Some women become aroused and have an orgasm during a rape, so they must enjoy
it.
TRUTH: Part of sexual arousal and orgasm in women and men are merely reflexes over
which we do not have any intentional control. These responses may occur during a sexual
attack, just as a man may experience an erection and ejaculate while being raped. These
reflexes in no way imply than any victim “enjoyed” or consented to being raped.
2. Discuss what we know from the research about the alcohol-rape connection.
Alcohol should never be seen as causing rape. Clearly, many men and women drink alcohol
as a routine part of their social interactions and are never involved in sexual assaults.
Conversely, rapes happen when neither the perpetrator nor the victim has had any alcohol at
all.
Alcohol plays a frequent and important role in many rapes, especially acquaintance and date
rapes, and in college rapes in particular. Studies have shown that alcohol use by the victim or
perpetrator is involved in the majority of all college rapes. A great deal of research suggests
that alcohol facilitates rape on college and university campuses through a combination of the
following factors:
• Drinking alcohol goes hand in hand with college life. The percentage of college students
who drink in excess is significantly higher than in the general population.
• Most alcohol use occurs in social settings, primarily parties at off-campus apartments or
fraternity houses, where men and women go with the express purpose of meeting others,
having fun, and getting drunk.
• Alcohol, as a drug, inhibits brain centers that are responsible for judgment, problem solving,
impulse control, and recognizing the future consequences of behavior. When drinking, men
are more likely to interpret a woman’s friendliness as sexual interest and become less able to
choose nonaggressive routes to sexual satisfaction.
• Alcohol is increasingly considered a date-rape drug, contributing to what is known as
incapacitated rape.
• Alcohol is known to increase the tendency toward all forms of interpersonal aggression,
especially in men, who tend to be more aggressive than women in general.
• Alcohol increases a potential victim’s vulnerability, mentally and physically. It interferes
with a woman’s ability to read a date’s intentions and may cause her to assume he
understands that she is not interested in sex when, also due to alcohol, he understands just the
opposite. Furthermore, alcohol interferes with physical coordination and may limit a
woman’s ability to effectively resist a sexual attack. College judicial files are full of cases of
rape in which the victim was too drunk to walk, had passed out, or was throwing up during
the rape.
• Men use alcohol to exploit the vulnerability of potential victims. A common shared goal of
men at fraternity parties is to get women drunk in order to loosen up their sexual inhibitions.
Some male predators prey on women by keeping tabs on those who are drinking the most and
becoming the most intoxicated and target them for sexual assault.
• Men believe that alcohol enhances their sexual prowess. Physiologically, of course, this is
not true, but the perception of greater sexual abilities through alcohol use increases the
likelihood of rape.
• Women who have been drinking at the time they were raped are often seen as less credible
when reporting the assault. This is because many people mistakenly believe that if a woman
was drinking, she shares the responsibility for being raped. In addition, alcohol in larger
quantities often produces memory blackouts regardless of whether there was a loss of
consciousness. A spotty memory of the events surrounding and during the rape makes
investigation and prosecution of the perpetrator difficult. Knowing this, the victim is less
likely to report the rape to authorities.
• Men who rape often use alcohol as an excuse to justify their behavior. A man who already
holds stereotypic beliefs about rape and who believes in various “blame-the-victim” rape
myths are more likely to misunderstand that when a woman is being friendly, she is, to his
way of thinking, coming on to him This perception may be enhanced by alcohol and provide
him with an excuse to rape.
• Many sexually aggressive men believe that women who drink moderate to heavy amounts
of alcohol are “fair game” for sexual coercion in that by drinking they women bring the
assault on themselves.
3. Describe some of the more common date rape drugs.
• Roofies. Rohypnol pills, commonly known as “roofies,” contain the tranquilizer
flunitrazepam, which suppresses the wakefulness and pain receptors in the brain. In Europe,
Rohypnol is prescribed as a sleeping pill or surgical pre-anesthetic; in the United States, it is
illegal but is the most common date rape drug in current use. In pill form, Rohypnol is white
or off-white; when dissolved in liquid, it is impossible to detect by odor, taste, or color. It
may also be obtained in a clear liquid form. In an effort to make the use of these drugs more
discernible, the manufacturer now makes Rohypnol tablets that contain a blue dye and
dissolve more slowly.
• GHB. Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), sometimes called liquid ecstasy, is another drug that
can be used to incapacitate a potential rape victim. This drug was legal in the United States,
primarily as a bodybuilding food supplement, until the early 1990s, when the FDA banned its
sale after studies revealed that it could be deadly. GHB comes in the form of an odorless,
colorless liquid that tastes salty or a white powder or capsule. The strength of the drug varies
according to who is manufacturing it and how it is formulated, but overall, the effects of
GHB begin within ten minutes to one hour after ingestion. Low doses may have various
effects, including sleepiness, increased sex drive, memory loss, hallucinations, headache, and
loss of muscle reflexes. Larger amounts may lead to nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing,
seizures, unconsciousness, coma, and even death (especially when combined with alcohol).
• Special K. Ketamine, or ketamine hydrochloride, sometimes called on the streets, is yet
another drug used for rape. It was developed in the 1970s as a surgical anesthetic for humans
and animals: it is now illegal to use in the United States except under a doctor’s supervision.
Taken orally, ketamine begins working in 10 to 20 minutes and can last up to 48 hours.
Ketamine causes increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen consumption. It has
increased in popularity as a club drug because it may also cause hallucinations, memory loss,
dreaminess, numbness, paralysis, and out-of body experiences. Recreational users of the drug
call these out-of-body feelings “entering a K-hole.”
4. Discuss the four guidelines for rape survivors.
1. REPORT. Reporting the assault as soon as you are safe allows the authorities to take an
immediate description and collect evidence. Most police departments today are trained in
proper and sensitive handling of survivors of rape and will not pressure you into taking any
actions against the rapist that you are hesitant to take.
2. PRESERVE EVIDENCE. Bathing, showering, douching (cleansing of the inside of the
vagina with water or other liquids), washing hands, brushing teeth or hair, or changing bed
linens or clothes may destroy evidence that will be important in charging, prosecuting, and
punishing your attacker. Even if you feel you do not want to press charges or pursue the
matter further, preserve evidence anyway, just in case you change your mind in the future (as
many victims do).
3. OBTAIN MEDICAL CARE. Here are four very important reasons why a victim of rape
should seek medical care as soon after the attack as possible:
• A medical evaluation for physical or emotional injuries that may need professional
attention.
• The collection of various specimens and physical evidence that may be crucial to any
charges that may be brought against the rapist.
• Testing for STIs. Many STIs can be prevented (even without evidence of exposure) with
quick treatment. In particular, anti-HIV medications have been shown to reduce the potential
for transmission dramatically if received within 72 hours of exposure through rape (Roland et
al., 2005).
• Obtaining emergency contraception if the survivor is at all concerned about the possibility
of pregnancy resulting from the attack.
4. SEEK EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. Remember rape is never the victim’s fault. Seek out
support from your network of trusted friends, family, or religious advisers. If you feel
uncomfortable talking about this experience to people close to you, call a local rape hotline in
your area (hotlines are listed in the phone book) or consider seeing a college or other
professional counselor. If you need more information on where to find support and
counseling, you may contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-HOPE (4673),
or visit the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network website at www.rainn.org. The most
difficult course of action is to try to cope with the trauma of rape alone.
5. Describe at least ten of the rape prevention strategies for men discussed in the text.
1. Get to know your date as a person (what a concept!). There is always time for sex; it
doesn’t have to be tonight. Besides, sex is better and safer when two people know each other
first.
2. Avoid making comments that treat women like sex objects; don’t brag about sexual
activities, and do not accept other men doing so. Call them on it, ignore them, or say, “I really
do not want to hear that crap!”
3. Do not try to get women drunk for sexual manipulation, and don’t allow others to do so
either. Watch out for women’s welfare at parties or other occasions where alcohol is present.
4. If your date is drunk, do not have sex with her. She is legally unable to consent to sex (or
any other agreement) while intoxicated, and intercourse under those conditions may be
considered rape, no matter what she says or does.
5. Remember that no means no, and if you’re not sure, ask her what she does and does not
want to do.
6. Never assume that she wants the same amount of sexual intimacy as you do. To you,
kissing and touching may communicate a desire to move on to intercourse, but it may not
mean that at all to her. Ask, “Are you comfortable with how things are going?” “How far do
you want this to go?” It may sound corny, but most women love feeling honored and
respected. In other words, don’t assume that silence means “yes.” Ask.
7. Communicate what you want. Are you unwilling to go out with her if there is no possibility
of sexual intercourse? If not, you need to let her know that. If you are willing to wait for sex
in the relationship, she needs to know that too.
8. If she doesn’t want to have intercourse, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want you. She is
making choices about her sexual behavior, which may be very different from her romantic
feelings about you.
9. You can stop! Things with your date may be hot and heavy; your desire for sex may be at a
fever pitch. But if there is any doubt about her full consent, just stop. It might be frustrating,
but it won’t kill you. Consider this: imagine that your mother were to burst in on you when
your desire was at its peak. You could stop, right?
10. Understand and be sensitive to the size and strength advantage you probably have over
most women. Some women may feel intimidated and frightened by your physical presence
without your even being aware of it. Some might feel forced, even if you have no intention of
forcing.
11. Spread this information to other men. Not only is rape violent and wrong, but it also
carries major criminal penalties. Determining and proving the identity of a rapist today is as
simple as a DNA test. Most rapists today and in the future will be caught, tried, and
convicted. The days of “getting away with it” are over.
12. Support organizations of men that adopt antirape policies, and work to promote antirape
policies in groups of men to which you belong.
13. If you know or suspect that a rape is being committed or may be committed, do
everything in your power to intervene and stop it.
6. Discuss the effects of child sexual abuse on victims: emotional, psychological, adult
intimate relationships, and medical.
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS.
Anger—toward self, the abuser, or some other party who should have stopped the abuse but
did not.
Poor self-esteem—due to the feeling that something must be wrong or bad in their character
to have allowed the abuse to occur and to continue.
Self-blame—because the abuser was a beloved family member who “could do no wrong,”
and to blame the perpetrator would destroy the victim’s ideal image of the abuser.
Shame—stemming from self-blame.
Guilt—over engaging in forbidden, immoral, sinful acts, the failure to tell anyone, or the
perception of causing the abuse.
Isolation and loneliness—stemming from the belief that the victim is unworthy of love,
closeness, and intimacy with another person.
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
Self-destructive behavior—such as dangerous risk taking, self-mutilation (cutting, burning,
etc.), unsafe promiscuous sexual behavior, eating disorders, or reckless or intoxicated driving.
Abuse of alcohol and other drugs—often as an attempt at self-medication to deaden
depression, pain, or unpleasant emotional reactions.
Anxiety, panic, and phobic disorders—stemming from the abuse itself, from the fear that
others may discover the past abuse that the victim feels compelled to keep hidden, from the
fear and mistrust felt in all current relationships, or from the loneliness and isolation from
which victims often suffer.
Denial—pretending, distorting reality, glossing over the truth, or refusal to accept or
acknowledge having experienced CSA.
Dissociation—using various psychological escape mechanisms that alter or block out
awareness and memory; symptoms may include “out of body” experiences; fantasies or
daydreams that seem real; loss of awareness of blocks of time, from minutes to days; or in
some cases of especially violent and sadistic abuse, the development of multiple
personalities.
Posttraumatic stress disorder—a syndrome characterized by reliving the abuse (flashbacks);
avoiding situations, thoughts, and feelings related to the abuse; emotional numbing; sleep
disturbances; heightened startle response; hypervigilance; and difficulty concentrating.
Learning disabilities—these are more common among CSA survivors than among the general
population.
Suicidal behavior—including thinking about or planning suicide, attempting suicide, and
succeeding at suicide, all more common among CSA survivors than among the population in
general.
ADULT INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS
Revictimization—a significantly greater chance of becoming a victim of sexual violence such
as rape and partner abuse as adults.
Emotional distance—from intimate partners and often friends and family.
Less trust—in others in general and in intimate partners in particular.
Feelings of danger in intimate relationships—an inability to feel safe and secure in an
intimate relationship for fear of betrayal or harm.
Lack of enjoyment in sex—which, for many survivors, reactivates the emotional trauma of
the abuse, resulting in low or absent sexual desire. Moreover, the body may react in ways that
inhibit sexual responding altogether.
Anxiety over sexual performance—due to memories of abuse.
Specific sexual problems—such as those discussed in Chapter 7, “Sexual Problems and
Solutions,” including erectile disorder, inability to achieve orgasm, inhibited sexual arousal,
vaginismus, and dyspareunia.
Forcing sex on a partner—as do perpetrators of sexual assaults, rapes, and child sexual abuse.
Increased promiscuity—due at least in part to such factors as low self-esteem, lack of trust in
intimate relationships, emotional distance, and lack of feelings of a secure attachment.
MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES
Alcoholism—possibly stemming from depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem.
Obesity—perhaps secondary to low self-worth, self-blame, avoidance of romantic or sexual
entanglements, or self-destructive behavior.
Tobacco use—likely due to such issues as low self-worth, self-blame, avoidance of romantic
or sexual entanglements, stress, or self-destructive behavior.
STIs—probably related to the combination of the greater number of sexual partners and the
self-destructive practice of unsafe sexual behaviors.
Gastrointestinal problems—such as irritable bowel syndrome and others commonly
precipitated by chronic anxiety.
Gynecological disorders—possibly related to the combination of a greater number of sexual
partners and the avoidance of gynecological exams due to reactivation of past sexual abuse
experiences.
Chronic pain—such as headache, stomach pain, and pelvic pain, for which CSA survivors are
treated by physicians and hospitalized in exceptionally high numbers.
Insomnia—often linked to stress, anxiety, and depression.
Eating disorders—perhaps arising from issues of powerlessness and lack of control, poor
self-esteem and body image, self-destructive behavior, or depression.
Asthma—which may be triggered by psychological factors.
7. Discuss some of the steps you can take if you are a victim of sexual harassment.
Steps to take if you are the victim of sexual harassment:
1. Say “NO!” in very clear terms. This is not always possible due to fear of reprisals or social
power differences, but if you let the harasser or harassers know that the behavior is not OK
with you and is unwelcome, it should, by law, stop immediately.
2. If the harassment is occurring within an organization such as an employer or college or
university, determine what the official policy is regarding sexual harassment. Most
organizations are required to develop written policies that adhere to the law (for an excellent
example, see Stanford University’s policy at http://harass.stanford.edu). The policy should
include the procedure victims of harassment should take. (Note that it is also illegal for an
organization to engage in any form of punishment or retribution toward anyone who reports
sexual harassment.)
3. Talk to others you trust about your experiences. This is important because you may find
personal support in them, and, in some cases, you may discover that one or more of them has
experienced the harassment as well.
4. Keep a record of every incident of sexual harassment, including dates, times, locations,
names, and any witnesses, no matter how small some of the events may seem.
5. Save any notes, gifts, text message records, voice mails, and the like, from your harasser.
6. Report the harassment to the appropriate official in your workplace or college or
university. This person should be identified in their sexual harassment policy. You may be
allowed to make such a report anonymously, and the designated official is required to take
action on your complaint. In some cases, you are not required to meet face to face with or
make your name available to your harasser.
7. If you prefer, you may bypass your specific organization entirely and report your
experience directly, in person or in writing, to the nearest office of the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the
U.S. Department of Education (see www.eeoc.gov/offices.html or www.ed.gov).
8. Consult a lawyer. A lawyer will be an effective advocate for you and can advise you of
your legal rights and courses of action. You may be able to find a lawyer for a low or no fee
through the American Bar Association (www.abanet.org) or legal-aid services (listed in the
phonebook) and law schools in your area.
Test Bank for Human Sexuality
Roger R. Hock
ISBN's: 9780205989409, 9780133971385, 9780134224961