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Rapist are predators. Just like animal predators, they seek out the weakest and/or most vulnerable prey. Rape is not about sex, it is an act of brutal violence. To protect against rape, you must develop your protection instincts.  To defend against rape, you must develop your survival instincts and cultivate a desire to escape at all costs.

Rape causes pain and suffering in the victim that may last a lifetime. It eats away at the soul and destroys the quality of life. At least the victim of a murderer is at peace, dead and no longer able to feel the pain.

FBI estimates indicate that only 10 percent of rapes are reported. Of those reported, in less than 25 percent are the rapists arrested. Of those arrested, only about 3 percent are charged. Of those charged, no more than 35 percent are convicted. In other words, most rapists are not caught.

Why rape is not reported

Some reasons why women do not report rape seem are the fear of:

• Ridicule

• Personal questions asked by police investigators

• Humiliating medical examinations

• Publicity

• Testifying in court

• Fear that sexual past will come out in court

• The victim has the burden to prove that the attack was forced, against her will, and that she resisted the attack.

• Justice system's inability to put the criminal away

• Retaliation from assailant or his friends

These are real concerns that must be overcome before rapists may be brought to justice.

Myths about rape

Rape statistics show:

• Rapists usually have raped approximately 14 times for each time they are caught

• Rapists are on an ascending scale of violence with each assault

• More than 50% of all rapes occur in the home of the victim

• More than 93% of the time, the assailant and the victim are of the same race

The mass media represents males in superior social and physical positions and women as helpless and vulnerable. For example, in films, women are often depicted not only as vulnerable victims, but as victims who, once raped, degraded and dehumanized, come to accept this treatment and grow to love their attackers.

Myths have a manifest purpose of legitimizing aberrant behavior, such as rape. Studies have shown that women as well as men believe in many rape myths and are aroused by rape depictions. For example, some men believe that women will respond to sexual force even if they initially refuse sexual advances. 

One myth is that rape is a crime caused by uncontrollable sex drive. Men in prison for serial rape often claim that they felt such a compulsion for sex that they could not help themselves. However, this claim does not hold water because virtually all such men either were married or otherwise had available sex partners when they committed the crimes.

Another myth is that women can resist rape of the really want to. Sometimes stated as "you cannot thread a moving needle. First of all, men have been raised differently than women, They have been trained to be physical and are usually stronger and faster than women. Likewise, women have been traditionally raised to be passive, weaker, and submissive to men. Such socialization enhances the possibility of a successful rape. In addition, the rapist chooses the time and place for the crime, usually when the women is in a vulnerable situation.

Many people believe the myth that rapes are committed by strangers, however, in fact, prior relationships are usually present in rape cases. About half of rapes of adult women were committed by men who know their victims and data show this may be as high as 80%.

Another myth is that women falsely cry rape. No doubt this has occurred, but it is rare. Data show that is more likely that women will not report a rape that occurred.

All women want to be raped is a myth that has been romanticized in the media. Romance novels after start with a sexual attack where the women "melts into passionate acceptance."  While it is true that some women have rape fantasies, these fantasies usually do not center on force or pain but on being "swept off one's feet" by a handsome stranger into a sexual liaison that one would not ordinarily entertain.

It can't happen to me is delusional belief that many women hold.  Accepting the myth that rape victims are always young and attractive, leads many women to believe they are unlikely victims since the are not desirable. Remember rape is not a crime of sex, it is a crime of violence. Sexual attractiveness is not a trait considered by rapists when they are stalking victims.

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