It is common for survivors of sexual assault to question why they were raped, and to wonder what kind of person could commit such a crime. If you knew the person who assaulted you, you may be feeling doubt about your ability to judge the character of another person. The socialization of men and women contributes to the occurrence of rape.
Some people call rape the universal crime against women.
The answer lies in part with the belief that men are naturally sexually dominant and aggressive, and women are conversely sexually passive and subordinate. Men are encouraged to view sexual conquest and violence as signs of masculinity, and women are often portrayed as sexual objects. The deep-seated and often unspoken belief that men are socially superior to women and that women are lustful, manipulative creatures provides a justification for sexual violence against women, as does the belief that rape is an inevitable result of men s sexual natures. No two rapists are exactly the same. They come from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds.