Rape victims come from all socioeconomic classes and ethnic backgrounds and range in age from 3 months to 97 years. Men and boys can be victims, too. The average age of sexual assault victims at Penn State is 19. Most rapes are committed by strangers in a dark place at night. National data also indicate that most sexual assaults and rapes are committed by someone the woman knows.
Rape can take place anywhere, at any time.
Many acquaintance rapes occur in the context of a dating relationship and typically take place on the man's turf. Rape is a sexual crime, impulsively committed by a man for sexual gratification. Rape is a crime of violence and aggression. Its intent is to overpower, degrade, and humiliate the victim. Women provoke rape by how they behave, dress, or where they choose to go.