Why Men Rape | Office Of Justice Programs

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NCJRS Virtual Library The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works. Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library Why Men Rape NCJ Number 72884 Date Published 1979 Length 0 pages Annotation

Produced for high school and college students, this Canadian documentary film analyzes rape from the perpetrator's viewpoint.

Abstract

Interviews with 10 convicted rapists, now in prisons or psychiatric hospitals, reveal that they come from all age levels and represent a variety of social and educational backgrounds. The film investigates the phenomenon of 'social rape,' which involves people who know each other socially. In social rape, the victim often trusts the man who assaults her. Most victims of social rpae do not report the incidents. The cases discussed by the 10 rapists differ from social rape in that the rapists did not know their victims. All of their raping experiences involved extreme violence. Rape is defined as forcing a woman into a sex act against her will by using physical and/or mental intimidation. The victim is so terrorized that she becomes afraid to resist. These men's reasons for raping stem from feelings of rejection, real rejection, emotional insecurity and immaturity, brutality experienced during childhood, and an unloving or emotionally sterile home environment. The film discusses specific crimes, the reasons the men committed them, and how the men were caught. The film points out that rape is an act of hate in which the rapist tries to degrade the woman. Several students also discuss their attitudes and feelings about sex, social encounters, and rape. The audience can compare these views with those of the rapists. Suggestions for preventing rape include more open discussion of sex in the family, in school, and in mixed groups; more sharing of feelings about sex and sex problems with others; and helping children grow up without contempt for themselves so that they will see each person as truly worthwhile. A film guide is provided.

Additional Details

Corporate Author National Film Board of Canada Address

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10020, United States

Sale Source Learning Corporation of America Address

1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, United States

Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program Address

Rockville, MD 20849, United States

Language English Country United States of America Note

*This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Color, 16 mm film, 40 mins, also available for rental

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Audiovisual aids Rape Rapists Home environment College Students