Date rape is rape in which the rapist is known to the victim, as when they are on a date
together. Date rape is also called acquaintance rape. The rate of date rape crimes are
substantially high at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Rape occurs
for several reasons. It can occur due to mixed signals given out from both parties. The
male can be at fault if he is told to stop and does not. The female can also be put to
blame, because some will say that she could have prevented it.
Both authors, Camille Paglia and Susan Jacoby, have opposing views to date rape.
Paglia is an antifeminist who feels that feminists have deceived women by telling them
that they can do anything, go anywhere, say anything, and wear anything. She feels that
women can't do so, because they will always be in sexual danger. She argues that
feminism misleads women by offering them a fantasy of sexual empowerment instead of
warning them of the certainty of male sexual aggression. She feels that feminists
overdramatize the rape situation. Feminists have told young women that before they
become intimate with a man, they must give explicit consent to avoid problems.
According to Paglia, the seriousness of rape does not require such exaggeration.
In It's a Jungle Out There, Paglia says that feminism keeps young women from
seeing life as it is. In a situation where a if a woman decides to attend a fraternity party,
she should be accompanied by others. A girl who allows herself to get drunk at parties is
a fool. Paglia says that a girl who goes upstairs with a fraternity brother is an idiot. In
this situation, feminists call this "blaming the victim." Paglia calls this common sense.
The only solution to date rape is female self-awareness and self control.
Susan Jacoby argues that excusing date rape on the grounds of "mixed signals"
demeans both men and women. ...