Acquaintance rape occurs when a woman is forced by someone she knows to have sexual intercourse against her will. The rapist may be a friend, date, family member, neighbor, partner or husband, or other acquaintance.
Most rape victims are women, but men can also be raped.
Anyone who is forced to have unwanted sexual intercourse is a rape victim. However, because rape usually happens to women, this brochure refers to female victims and male offenders. Any woman is at risk for acquaintance rape regardless of her age, race, education level, or socioeconomic status. The American Medical Association estimates that a woman is sexually assaulted every 45 minutes. There are warning signs that a man may be a potential rapist.