Attention VHS CLASS!

THE BLOG GOES IN PROGRESSION FROM THE BOTTOM UP! Start with the first posting below on defining date rape and work your way to the top. Usually I only show one topic at a time for my class. ...Joe

Why Do Men Rape?

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The question of why men rape has long been debated. Clearly there seems to be a difference between the "serial rapist" and the type of male who commits an acquaintance rape. The answers to either type of are complicated and not as clear-cut as one might expect. While many serial rapists also murder their victims who are strangers to them, the acquaintance rapist seems to be motivated by a different set of factors. In both cases studies seem to indicate that the rapist may have deep seated anger directed towards women that they may or may not be aware of. Most rapists have a history of violence, have an active sex life, and many have a history of having been abused (sexually and physically) themselves. In 2000, two professors, Randy Thornhill and Craig Palmer published an article in the New York Academy of Sciences, Why Men Rape that started a firestorm on the subject. They suggested that rape was motivated by our most primal roots of natural selection and not for any of the traditionally recognized reasons. Read their article and respond to our question: Why do men rape?

The Number One Date Rape Drug

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The number one date rape drug is alcohol by far! Alcohol is present in over 90% of all date rape crimes and is often used to administer most of the other date rape drugs. In fact, alcohol is almost the ideal rape drug because it attacks the area of the brain that governs judgement and lowers inhabition. Worse yet, alcohol has been accepted in the past as an accecptable excuse for bad behavior by young males.
"Boys will be boys" and alcohol provided the cover for anti-social behavior such as fighting, destruction of property, sexual battery, and rape. Luckily times are changing. In many states, simply having sex with an intoxicated female is grounds for charges against the male even if he was also intoxicated. No longer can the excuse, "I was drunk" be used to justify sex crimes. What do you think? Should intoxication be a factor in lessening a rape charge? Why do you think states are inacting laws that state having sex with an intoxicated female could lead to an arrest? Share your opinion below. (For more information on date rape drugs click here.)

Date Rape Prevention

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Date Rape prevention education is a tricky subject. Some women's groups object to it because it implies that women are somehow responsible for their own rapes. Let it be understood up front, the only person responsible for a rape is the rapist. Rape is not about sex, love, or romance, it is an act of violence. Having said the above truth, it is also believed by most colleges that prevention education is helpful. Most colleges believe it is better to give advice that might protect an innocent person from a predator than not say anything at all. Watch the video on rape prevention that is posted and make a few suggestions of your own. What is the best advice given and what would you add to the video?

What is "Acquaintance Rape?"

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Acquaintance rape is a type of rape that takes place between people who already know each other is some way such as; a boyfriend, relative, schoolmate, or casual acquaintance. The vast majority of rapes take place not with strangers, but between people who already know each other. Which type of rape do you feel would be more devestating, a rape by a total stranger or by someone you already know?