So I decided that I am going to sit down, and try to understand exactly why rape is so damaging to a person. My only remaining fear comes from being alone with a man who is in a position of power over me. And slowly I am overcoming that. Well, first of all, I guess that rape is truly traumatizing because it is the ultimate invasion. If you are going to take someone's dignity, don't kill them or steal their money, rape them.
Rape totally renders the victim powerless over what is happening.
Say someone broke into your car and stole your prized stereo that cost you a thousand dollars. You'd be pissed and upset that someone felt like they had the right to take your stereo. Now multiply it by a thousand, and then add in the stigma of shame that societies all over the world place on rape. Another reason that rape is so harmful is because it often times brings in quite a bit of self-blame. In my personal experience, until I was about fourteen years old, I regarded my rape as normal sexual intercourse because I felt in some way that I had given my consent.