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Rape is unwanted sexual intercourse or oral or anal sex. Definitions vary slightly from state to state, but even partial penetration generally counts as rape. "Unwanted" means that the victim was overcome by force or fear, or wasn't able to give consent.
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Both men and women can be raped, but it happens much more often to women. In a recent Justice Department study, 17.6% of women reported having been raped.
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However, rape is a seriously under-reported crime. Many victims don't tell anyone what happened to them because they feel ashamed or embarrassed. Rape crisis counselors emphasize the psychological importance of sharing your experience with someone else--whether or not you decide to try to prosecute your attacker.
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Date rape, or acquaintance rape, simply means the victim knew her rapist. In the Justice Department survey, 76% of the women who had been raped said they knew their attackers.
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The so-called "date rape drug"--rohypnol, or "roofie"--is a powerful sedative that can be secretly slipped into a drink and cause victims to enter a dreamlike state or even black out. Many women who have been raped while on this drug don't have a clear memory of being assaulted.
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Statutory rape is when someone who is legally an adult (generally, over 18) has sex with someone who is under "the age of consent." The legal age of consent varies from state to state.
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If you are raped, call the police or talk to a friend or rape crisis center. It's also recommended that you don't clean yourself and find your way quickly to a clinic or hospital so that they can document what has happened and check for any injuries or trauma.
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