Less is known about the frequency of rapes perpetrated against men. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that male victims represent about five percent of reported sexual assaults. Many states have now abandoned this concept in favor of the gender neutral concept of sexual assault. Among the acts classified as sexual assault is acquaintance or date rape, generally defined as an assault in which the assailant is known to the victim. The remainder are committed by friends, acquaintances, intimates, and family members.
Acquaintance rape is particularly common among adolescent victims.
The majority of sexual assault victims are young. Women with a history of rape or attempted rape during adolescence are almost twice as likely to experience a sexual assault during college, and were three times as likely to be victimized by a husband. As is true of other violent crimes, it is difficult to get accurate estimates of the incidence of sexual assault. Many factors contribute to underreporting, including embarrassment, fear of further injury, and fear of court procedures that, too often, scrutinize and judge the victim's behavior and history. Sexual assaults can and do occur within marital relationships.