It's very important to clearly communicate your wishes, desires, and expectations before you get into an intimate situation. Remember, follow your instincts. If you are unsure of your safety with someone, leave the situation. Don't rush into a sexual relationship or an intimate setting too quickly. This debate has been raging since the beginning of the women's movement in the 1960s, when feminist thought first entered into the legal arena of rape.
Rape is motivated by sexual desire.
If you would like more information on this argument, see the Reading and Resources section. Rape is a crime of power. This argument states that rape is not sex, but merely a form of violent domination of one person by another. An example of this argument is prison rape. Men rape other men in prison not for sexual gratification, but to control newcomers by forcing them to submit to a stronger prisoner.