It is often said that the crime of rape stays with a victim for life. Victims of rape are forever violated to their core and haunted by unshakable memories, thoughts, feelings and reminders. The intensity of an assault and other circumstances can cause an even greater lifelong impact.  As always, don't just hope not to be a crime victim; prepare and guard yourself well.

What is Rape?

There are different types of rape, but the bottom line is that rape is a crime. Rape involves the act of forcibly having sex with an individual without consent of that individual. The word force is used loosely in the definition of rape – force can involve violent actions, it can be nonviolent force (such as a rape that occurs when the victim is drugged), or it can be a rape that involves the use of psychological intimidation. Rape can also occur when an individual is legally an adult and they have sex with a consenting minor child – minors are not considered of the age of consent and therefore, rape charges can result.

Married women are sometimes raped by their partners, and sometimes children are raped by a relative. Some rapes are the result of hate crimes and some rapes are random acts of violence. No matter how the rape occurs, it is still a crime and the victim is likely to suffer both physical and emotional trauma.

Are You Aware?

Did you know that 3.5 percent of every 1,000 women in college will be raped every year?

Did you know that a stranger is the assailant in only 40 percent of rapes? Often time the victim knows their assailant. In fact, more than fifty percent of all rapes happen when out on a date with someone familiar.

Did you know that more than fifty percent of all incidents of rape occur after 12PM?

Did you know that men are also victims of rape? It’s true, women are ten times more likely to be raped but men have also been the victims of rape. A total of nine percent of rape victims are actually men.

The above statistics are startling, but certainly something that should be considered. Having such knowledge in the back of one’s mind allows for the individual to be forewarned and subsequently forearmed. Rape is something that can happen to anyone, men, women, and children, young and old and of all backgrounds -- and nearly every three seconds someone has been a victim of rape. Out of the latter mentioned rapes, one out of every six women is raped and one out of every thirty-three men are rape victims.

What is Date Rape?

The term date rape is fairly simple: it describes when a rape occurs when someone is on a date. The circumstances surrounding date rape however, can certainly vary. The most basic form of date rape involves the act of sex without the consent of the victim. Sometimes, an individual, despite repeatedly being told no, pursue sex anyway. If the act of intercourse occurs without consent of both parties, it is rape! Rape can occur when the victim is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or the rapist may go as far as to drug the victim unknowingly.

Is Rape Preventable?

While it is not possible to prevent every instance of rape, it is possible to enact certain precautions that may reduce the possibility of rape from occurring. Taking additional precautions and being aware of the threat of rape can help to lower the chance that one will be raped. Some of the safety measures are mere common sense while other measures may not be so obvious. Below are some recommended measures to help to reduce the possibility of rape.

Rape Prevention Tip #1:

Never walk alone in a dark area and always have some kind of additional light source on hand. A small keychain flashlight or even a mini lightweight flashlight are recommended. If you are an individual that anticipates that they will have to enter an unfamiliar or darkened area alone, it’s okay to ask someone to walk with you. Plan accordingly.

Rape Prevention Tip #2:

When a stranger approaches your door, be sure to request some kind of identification. Do not assume that just because the individual is wearing a uniform that they are a legitimate employee of some company that you may or may not be familiar with. If the individual is unexpected, always be on your guard. It's alright to be a little rude and talk through a closed and locked door.

Rape Prevention Tip #3:

When walking outdoors during the day or in the evening, make sure that your hands are not overly full or that you appear to be overwhelmed. Rapists look for victims that appear as if they can be easily taken and if you are totally distracted by what you are doing, the criminal may believe that he can catch you unaware. In addition, having a small alarm, or even carrying mace or a stun-gun, if permitted where you live, may serve you well in the event an attack occurs.

Rape Prevention Tip #4:

Always lock your car doors. It is a good idea to have an alarm system installed as well – one that can be triggered by remote if you should find yourself in trouble. Meanwhile, having a cell phone on hand during an emergency is highly recommended. If you should get a flat tire at night and you are in a strange area, you can call someone you know to assist you. While a well-meaning stranger may attempt to help you, it is always better to play things safe and wait for assistance from someone you know.

Rape Prevention Tip #5:

Before even heading to your vehicle, get out those car keys. You don’t want to be looking around for your keys or to appear distracted. Further, when you are heading toward the car, take a look underneath it – it is not uncommon for a criminal to hide beneath a vehicle in order to get their victim. When you get very close to the vehicle, look in the back seat before you get into the car. Once your inside, lock the door immediately behind you.

Rape Prevention Tip #6:

Make sure you always have enough gas in the car. You don’t want to be in the middle of a strange place only to find that you have run out of gas – you make yourself vulnerable in such an instance. At the very least, carry some emergency cash on hand.

Rape Prevention Tip #7:

In the event that a victim feels as if they are being stalked, it is incredibly necessary for the victim to head for the police station. A victim should never go to their place of residence or even near it.

Rape Prevention Tip #8:

For those individuals that like to jog or walk – while engaging in exercise is highly recommended, doing so in the wee hours of the morning in an isolated place alone is not. Buddy up – have someone accompany you – rapists are less likely to attack women that have someone with them.

Rape Prevention Tip #9:

If out at a social gathering or on a date, a popular method for drugging victims is to slip something in their drink. Therefore, it is recommend that one never leave a drink unattended. Further, if attending social gatherings it is always a good idea to bring a close friend or two along – this way, each person can look out for the other.

Rape Prevention Tip #10:

Put your cell-phone and it's hands free device to good use. Make that long lone walk to your vehicle a little safer. Using a hands free set, call a friend, family member or any other suitable "cell-phone buddy" when you find yourself walking a great distance to your vehicle. Make sure they know not only where you are but what you are wearing and describe any thing unusual as you make your way.  

What to Do if Rape Does Occur

In the terrible event that rape occurs, it is imperative that the victim report it. Many rapes go unreported for a variety of reasons. The victim of rape may feel shame, may feel that they are somehow to blame for the incident or they are afraid of the repercussions if they should report the incident. The bottom line is that rape is a crime and if someone gets away with it they are more apt to do it again to someone else.

Many rape victims make the mistake of taking a shower after the rape occurs before they do anything else. This is a huge mistake – while the rape victim may not be thinking clearly, the body has evidence that may be used to convict the rapist later on. Many victims want the cleansing that a shower offers, but they should wait until they are seen in an emergency room and a rape kit is used to collect evidence before showering.

If the victim of a rape believes that they have been drugged during the rape, further testing may be required. A urine test may be requested or a blood test to indicate what kind of drug was used on the victim. If any drug is discovered, it can be later used against the rapist as evidence.

A rape victim is not alone – there are many individuals willing to talk to the victim and help them through a psychologically difficult time. Victims of rape can call someone from the National Sexual Assault hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE . The psychological effects of rape can be truly devastating and long lasting for the victim without some form of counseling. Withdrawal, depression, isolation, social anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder are just some of the awful after affects that can follow an event like rape.

If you have been raped, unfortunately you are going to require testing for sexually transmitted diseases. Some tests can be conducted offering immediate results and other tests may take several weeks for results, in addition to follow up visits to the doctor’s office. While it may be psychologically uncomfortable to even think about the rape or any consequences of it, it is important for the victim to have sexually transmitted disease tests conducted anyway.

Rape and Pregnancy

While it may be a sad consequence of rape, some women wide up pregnant after being raped. When a pregnancy is the result of a rape the victim is left with some pretty serious decisions to make. Again, before making rash decisions, it is advisable for the victim to seek immediate counseling about the situation.