Straight Talk About. DATE RAPE

Discusses the phenomenon known as acquaintance, or date, rape, describing situations in which it occurs, how to avoid this crime, and where to get help if you have been a victim.

Using examples and analogies to define this often unreported crime, the authors explore their subject's extensive gray area in detail, acknowledging that perceptions of victim and rapist often differ but emphasizing that the element of unwillingness determines legal rape. They blame societal norms--the expectation that a man is in charge, the treatment of both men and women as objects--for rape's prevalence, exploring how traditional roles tend toward misunderstanding (the compliant woman, looking for a longterm relationship, softens her negative with ambiguities easily misread by a ``guy'' who feels obligated to ``score,'' and entitled because he's paid for an evening). They also discuss acquaintance rape, other sexual aggression, strategies for avoiding problems and for escaping, and coping with the aftermath of an attack; in each case, the male victim's plight is also briefly addressed. The authors' sensible plea, for the long run, favors equalizing the balance of power by changing fundamental attitudes and behavior. The book is tediously repetitious, but also clear, very detailed, and not at all simplistic; conflicting advice (e.g., when to fight back) is presented as such, and the authors caution that ``help'' victims seek may prove unsympathetic. Thorough and useful. List of sources of help; further reading; index. (Nonfiction. 12+) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.