Citation

Moolman CJ. Med. Law 1989; 8(2): 137-141.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, International Centre of Medicine and Law)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2516590

Abstract

The 'It can't happen to me' attitude of women towards rape results in their ignorance concerning the action to take when confronted by a rapist. They can either resist, hoping to repel the rapist, or they can obey his commands, hoping he will depart without maiming or killing them. The view is put forward that a woman's best strategy is to resist. Intimidation is the rapist's best weapon, a necessary procondition to rape. The potential victim should refuse to be intimidated. Rapists are on the lookout for women who are vulnerable to attack. The perception of vulnerability differs from one rapist to another. Rapists test, then threaten. Testing is crucial for the rapist, for if he guesses wrongly about whether a woman can be intimidated he will lose his opportunity to rape her. Most rapists are not murderers. It is important that the potential victim should resist at the beginning of the attack and should not look vulnerable on the street. The potential victim should be advised to know her own strength, to be prudent, prepared and to have the necessary knowledge that will enable her to protect herself.

Language: en