Rape means being forced to have sex with somebody against your will. If you say no, or if you don’t say yes, and if a person ignores your request, then that is rape. Violent acts against women continue to occur every day. A stranger can rape you, but an acquaintance can rape you, too. Even if you have slept with someone before, if they have sex with you against your will, it is still rape. In order to avoid rape by a stranger, or by an acquaintance, you should take all precautions you can think of.

• Don’t put yourself in dangerous or sketchy situations.
• Make smart choices and use your street smarts
• Park close to street lights.
• Carry a flashlight on your key chain, or pepper spray.
• Don’t walk or run alone at night for exercise or any reason.
• Keep your doors locked and blinds closed when you are home alone.
• Take a self-defense class. There are lots of classes out there that provide training in self-defense for women. These include RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) classes, kickboxing, karate and others. It is important to know how to use your strength to protect yourself in case you are attacked.

If you have been raped, it is crucial to notify someone immediately. You can go to the hospital right after being raped to have tests done to identify the attacker if he was a stranger. Do not take a shower or change clothes before you go to the hospital. There are rape crisis centers and hotlines that will advise you after a rape. They are open around the clock and have trained professionals who can help you through every step.

Remember, it’s never your fault if you are raped. Even if you forget to take a precaution, you can’t blame yourself for what happens. You might hear people say “she was asking for it” or “she definitely wanted it because…”. Those statements are ignorant and false, and you should never listen to them because they are just plain wrong.

Click below to read about related topics.

Introduction
Rape
Date Rape
Sexual Abuse