do you think that rape is actually about sex?

College Confidential Community
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<p>they say that a woman gets raped every seven seconds. at least in developed countries where men can afford hookers, this statistic seems ridiculous. isn't it only like 20 dollars to hire a hooker? why would you want to rape someone <em>if</em> all you wanted was sex? musn't there be another reason? if so what would it be? just a need to create more drama in your life? or a motive, like with murder?</p>

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<p>because you want sex <em>now</em>.</p>

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<p>"isn't it only like 20 dollars to hire a hooker?"</p>

<h1>Keep in mind that a large percent of rapists are poor. Also when you're poor you have less to lose so all the more incentive to rape</h1>

<p>Also keep in mind that rape is pretty common in the animal kingdom.</p>

<p>If you want to read more, try this book:
Amazon.com:</a> A Natural History of Rape: Biological Bases of Sexual Coercion: Randy Thornhill,Craig T. Palmer,Margo I. Wilson: Books</p>

<p>It's probably the only book that focuses on the biological bases for rape (rather than huge socially constructed social theories)</p>

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<p>Many experts consider it to be a domination/power thing. </p>

<p>You could try doing at least a minimal amount of research before you ask questions, you know :)</p>

<p>Rape</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>

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<p>It's about domination</p>

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<p>woah interesting. you're right i should have lol</p>

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<p>\Rape by perpetrator[24]
Perpetrator Frequency
Steady dating partner 21.6%
Casual friend 16.5%
Ex-boyfriend 12.2%
Acquaintance 10.8%
Close friend 10.1%
Casual date 10.1%
Husband 7.2%</p>

<h1>Stranger 2%</h1>

<p>2 % by stranger? Damn...?</p>

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<p>Wow. Scary statistics.</p>

<p>Husband?? Couldn't they just ask..</p>

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<p>Yep, it's about being able to control someone else... </p>

<p>In fact, many experts say that the main motives in rape and murder are essentially the same just at different degrees.</p>

<p>Hm, that's comforting to think about.</p>

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<p>From the transcript of the Science</a> Show: "Rape":</p>

<p>
[quote]
...Clio Cresswell: I’ve just read the natural history of rape, the latest book by evolutionary biologists Randy Thornhill and Craig Palmer. As the name suggests it is a study of rape from an evolutionary perspective. Importantly, the authors make a distinction between rape as a sexual act and rape as an act of violence. This leads them to consider rape as the expression of a specific strategy designed for men to ensure the propagation of their genes. A novel concept and of course a highly controversial one. </p>

<p>Needless to say the book’s release has stimulated much discussion and considerable argument. But the authors are well established scientists, not convicted murderers. I read the Natural History of Rape with an open mind hoping for scientific clarity. Now while the book didn’t succeed in giving me that, the evolutionary arguments did get me to think and think hard. As to actually getting some answers or making some progress I have to say I actually ended up overburdened with confusion. And following their line of argument might even lead to worse. I mean, should I go to work tomorrow or should I go and pick some berries while looking for my perfect gene pool inseminator. That’s a tough question you know and it may not have been asked from around 2million years before Christ until 1859 when Darwin’s theory of evolution was first published.</p>

<p>During that extended pre-Darwinian period we loftily saw ourselves as special and somehow separate from other instinct-driven animals. Darwin’s theory on common ancestry and environmental adaptation dramatically changed that thinking and provided us with an understanding not only of our features but of all animals. Our features however include extremely psychological mechanisms, like falling love, writing poetry or excessive compulsive behaviour and their origin remains a common source of debate.</p>

<p>Present day research still questions whether these mechanisms are many and specific or few and general for example. And now with the human genome project the issue of whether they are predominately cultural or genetic is particularly high on our agenda. **So Thornhill and Palmer have not only taken on a sensational topic with their new book but also one which rests in an area where a lot of work remains to be done. I think this is a brave move and science often moves ahead accompanied by controversy. Here is their hypothesis. </p>

<p>Biologically males and females have considerably different methods of reproduction. Females bear one egg once a month that, if fertilised leads to months of gestation then birth and lactation, all of which poses great physical demands and a significant amount of time. Males on the other hand have hundreds of millions of sperm cells that require only minutes to be deposited in a female’s reproductive tract. This minimal parental investment in offspring for a man is so trivial that it has led to a society where males chase females and females choose mates. Consequently it is argued that men show a greater interest in a variety of sexual partners and in casual sex.**</p>

<p>The authors therefore conclude two possible evolutionary hypotheses for the existence of rape. First, it could be an incidental result of men’s tactics to have casual sex with multiple partners. Secondly, rape in itself could be an adaptation to enable even unattractive males to acquire casual sex with multiple partners. As a result of these ideas the authors propose their crucial insight that rape is an act of sex not of violence, which is indirect opposition with today’s prevailing theory...

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<p>i'd say rape is about domination & control. re the biological basis of rape: I'd say in most cases it is not an evolutionary advantage since many cases of rape also involve physical violence that leads to serious physical injuries/death in the victim. Plus a lotta people who get raped are little kids or men which would definitely not help the propagation of the rapist's genes...</p>