Sexual violence among dates and acquaintances: Trends and their implications for marriage and family

While it would be difficult to make a conclusive case that there has been a significant increase in forcible rape during the past generation, there is evidence showing that the rate of date rape has increased dramatically during this period. This study describes certain sociocultural changes that society has undergone during this time that appear to be largely responsible for this trend. These include the equalization of sexual freedom for females vis-a-vis males, the pervasive and questionable ways in which the mass media and popular culture feature human sexuality, and the widespread, excessive use of alcoholic beverages among male and female adolescents and college students.