Rape, Acquaintance or Date

Renee D. Graphia

Acquaintance rape, commonly known as “date rape,” is a form of sexual violence. Acquaintance rape is nonconsensual sexual intercourse where penetration is achieved with the use of or threatened use of force, occurring between individuals known to one another, such as a current or former friend, acquaintance, spouse, dating partner, or relative. While many theories, including social, biological, and situational theories, have been postulated as to why acquaintance rapes occur, there is no single explanation. Criminal justice professionals and the general public often perceive acquaintance rape as less severe and less prevalent than stranger rape. This is problematic because it subtly perpetuates the belief that this ...

Users without subscription are not able to see the full content on this title. Please, subscribe or login to access all content on this website.