Why is Date Rape Such a Big Deal

After all, Date Rape doesn’t affect a girl as much as a stranger rape, does it?

Date Rape is a HUGE deal, affecting girls as much or more than stranger rape. A victim of date rape has not only been raped, but has also been betrayed by someone she trusted. It is this element that is usually the most damaging to the victim, causing her to doubt her own judgment about who she can actually trust. The main effects of date rape are:

Loss of trust
Since the person who committed the rape was someone she trusted, the victim not only loses trust in others, but also loses trust in herself. She may doubt her own ability to judge another person’s character.

Guilt
The victim usually blames herself, thinking that she somehow caused the rape to occur.

Fear
Victims may become fearful of other friends and acquaintances, and may begin to avoid other people.

Depression
This is a common result of date rape.

Sexual Problems
A victim often has difficulty establishing trust in future intimate relationships.

These are some of the symptoms of Rape Trauma Syndrome, a type of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that affects victims of rape.