Is rape an act of sexual desire?

by Joanne on Apr 8th, 2008

Most experts agree that rape is an act of aggression and hostility, not of sexual desire. Forcing you to have sex – whether your vagina or anus is penetrated with a penis, or whether a foreign object is used in the act – has nothing to do with sexual passion and pleasure. Rape is a crime of violence in which sex is used as a weapon to dominate and gain power over you.

A less orthodox view holds that sexual desire plays some role in the act of rape, as a kind “fuel” that drives the violent, personal expression of power, but which is secondary to the main object of domination and control.

Cats: Misc, South Africa
Tags: About Rape, Misc, Rape, Sexual Desire, South Africa

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Recent comments:

Ben - Editor
April 8th, 2008 @12:46 #

We're very pleased to welcome Nombuso Mthethwa on to our Editorial Board. A medical doctor, she'll bring a new perspective to the project. Welcome, Nombuso!

See the About page for more:

http://aboutrape.book.co.za/about-about-rape/
Lesley
April 8th, 2008 @19:55 #

Are many (MANY) men raped, brutalised, silent? See my previous posts.

I know I am focused on this reply to a question and answer with my own question but, seeing as how the answer is in the ether (read the silence of men) and, seeing as how the question was inspired by yours, I ask: Please will the editorial board consider adding this one to the official questions which you ask and find answers for?
Richard de Nooy
April 9th, 2008 @00:00 #

I'm no expert on this subject (fortunately), but I googled "male on male rape" and got a fair number of hits, including this one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_rape_research

I think it's a good question to add to the list. The topic has got me wondering whether there could be a link between male-on-male rape in prisons and the proclivity to subsequently commit rape in the outside world. If so, it's not very hard to imagine that prisons may be a breeding ground for rapists.
Ben - Editor
April 9th, 2008 @00:28 #

Thanks for these notes. We have "What is 'male rape'?" scheduled for the book, with possibly "How likely are boys and men raped?" and "What can male survivors of rape - either as victims or as partners and friends of victims - do to heal?" as follow-ups.
Phillippa Yaa
April 9th, 2008 @01:44 #

Excellent, I think it is really important that men take male rape more seriously. Well done Lesley for not letting it go, and Richard and Ben for taking up the question. Is there a huge silence around rape because women are auditing the conversation? I wonder.