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Sexual behavior of assailants during reported rapes

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Abstract

The present study reports on the forced sexual, excretory, and sadistic acts that occur during rape. The main sample consisted of 115 adult, adolescent, and child rape victims that were admitted during a 1-year period to the emergency wards of a large municipal hospital. Forced vaginal intercourse was the most frequent act reported, but many other acts also occurred, ranging from fellatio and cunnilingus to urinating on the victim. It is argued that various social-psychological meanings are attached to forced sexual acts, most notably power, anger, and male camaraderie. Pair/group rape differs from single-assailant rape in the emphasis placed on watching and taking turns. Analyzing the social meanings attached to forced sex makes a contribution to our knowledge about the use of sex to express nonsexual issues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, 02167, Massachusetts, USA

    Lynda Lytle Holmstrom Ph.D.

  2. Nursing Research, Boston University, 02215, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Ann Wolbert Burgess R.N., D.N. Sc.

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  1. Lynda Lytle Holmstrom Ph.D.
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  2. Ann Wolbert Burgess R.N., D.N. Sc.
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Holmstrom, L.L., Burgess, A.W. Sexual behavior of assailants during reported rapes. Arch Sex Behav 9, 427–439 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02115942

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