Rape is Never the Victim's Fault
These definitions mean that being forced to do anything sexually against your will (including unwanted touching or intercourse) and verbal threats of unwanted sexual contact are illegal and defined as sexual assault or rape.
As mentioned above, sexual assault and rape are usually committed by people the victim knows and in many cases by friends or dates. These instances are known as acquaintance rape or date rape.
Going on a date with someone, previously having sex with someone, or being willing to participate in lighter sexual activity with someone does not mean that you have consented to have sex with that person.
Anytime you do not want to have intercourse or sexual contact with someone and that person disregards your wishes, forcing you to have intercourse, sexual contact, or threatening you if you don't agree to do so, that is sexual assault or rape.
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Written By: Teens participating in the Summer Wellness Programs
Reviewed By: Nancy Brown, Ph.D.
Last Reviewed: October 2013
Below are links PAMF accessed when researching this topic. PAMF does not sponsor or endorse any of these sites, nor does PAMF guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on them.
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
Fisher BS, Cullen FT, Turner MG. The Sexual Victimization of College Women. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice: 2000. Publication No. NCJ 182369
Catalano, Shannan M. Bureau of Justice Statistics: National Crime Victimization Survey. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Program 2004. Publication No. NCJ 205455
For More Information:
See our Sexual Harassment article.
See our Rape & Sexual Assault article.