# Rape
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 9, 2000, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101 "2000-04-09T05:35:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/1 "2000-04-09T05:35:00Z")
This is such a sensitive subject–I will try to be delicate with it.
My curiosity is if a woman is raped, how is the perpetrator able to penetrate her? In my (limited) sexual experience, the woman needs to be aroused and “lubed” to allow penetration. Otherwise, she will tear–not of concern to the perp, yes, but _he_ will be pinched and bend painfully. Obviously rapists don’t walk around with a bottle of KY, and the woman is incredibly tense in fear (if she is conscious), so I’m curious about this.
Do I really want to know the answer?
* * *
Teaching: The ultimate birth control method.
[Laura’s Stuff and Things](http://members.aol.com/lrconaway)
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### Author:  [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/2 "2000-04-09T05:44:00Z")
Sorry, no answer for this one. I’m going to aske the flip side of it, though.
If a man is raped by a woman (not as common as male on female rape, but it does happen) how is he able to achieve an erection? I’ve always heard that stress is a major cause of erectile dysfunction, and I can’t imagine anything more stressful than being required to perform under threat of bodily harm.
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“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.” — Han Solo
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### Author:  [@tony1234](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tony1234)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/3 "2000-04-09T05:52:00Z")
This does not response to your question, but, at least from a legal perspective, no particular amount of penetration is needed to accomplish a rape. The standard is generally penetration “however slight.”
I do not know how much penetration typically occurs in fact.
tony1234
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Two things fill my mind with ever-increasing wonder and awe: the starry skies above me and the moral law within me. – Kant
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### Author:  [@Steve-o](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve-o)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/4 "2000-04-09T06:06:00Z")
**Ruffian**
I would imagine that some cases actually do simply involve the force of which you wrote. Also, everyone actually does carry around a very good lubricant with them. It’s called saliva.
**agisofia**
The rape you described will not always be successful for the very reason you gave… stress. Stress can prevent erection sometimes, but will not always do so. In such a case where stress will not prevent the erection, actual physical stimulation could do the trick.
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Things are random only insofar as we don’t understand them.
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### Author:  [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/5 "2000-04-09T06:10:00Z")
I have never raped anyone.
However, I remember many years ago me and my partner were prettty drunk. In our stupid state, I did the deed without the usual pleasantries of even a quickie. End result - I was able to do it just fine, she hurt for a couple of days later.
Conclusion: It doesn’t hurt the penis nearly as much as it hurts the vagina.
Also, a good number of rapists do not ejaculate, and I think any guy who ever did a similar thing that I did would tell you that having an orgasm - even with consentual sex - under those circumstances is tough.
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Yer pal,
Satan
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/6 "2000-04-09T06:59:00Z")
Physiological reaction on the part of the victim has nothing to do with the act of rape.
A man could have an erection against his will, and I’m sure a woman could possibly lubricate. This fact was at one time (and maybe still is) used as a defense in rape cases.
It’s still rape.
Peace,
mangeorge
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Teach your kids to bungee jump.
One them might have to cross a bridge someday.
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### Author:  [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/7 "2000-04-09T14:47:00Z")
\*_Satan_–in your situation, your girlfriend was unconscious, relaxed, and unaware. Although she was not aroused, she was not tense with fear.
I remember reading a case study of a woman who was attacked. When the perp tried to rape her, she was too tight to penetrate. His response was to yell at her to “loosen up,” beat her up, and leave in a huff.
It just seems to me that a **conscious** woman, aware of what is going on and terrified, her body tight and tense in terror, would be very difficult to penetrate.
* * *
Teaching: The ultimate birth control method.
[Laura’s Stuff and Things](http://members.aol.com/lrconaway)
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### Author:  [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/8 "2000-04-09T14:48:00Z")
Frick. I hate it when I mess up the coding.
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### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/9 "2000-04-09T16:19:00Z")
Easy. If you are a woman & have a shotgun pointed at your head, you’ll open the door down there.
As for men getting erections, Im sure there are some who are aroused by guns.
Also, getting a guy drunk & having sex with him is illegal.
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### Author:  [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/10 "2000-04-09T18:44:00Z")
A woman weighs in: I was raped by an ex-boyfriend (who didn’t want to be an ex) - I fought but finally gave in when he started to choke me. Now, true, this was not as bad as if it had been a stranger – I didn’t call the cops, just moved and made damn sure he couldn’t find me again. I don’t recall that it was painful (this was a long time ago) – but yeah I was dry and it was not pleasant. I think the friction lubed things up. So my WAG is that the initial penetration would hurt, but the thrusting would stimulate the woman’s lube glands.
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/11 "2000-04-09T18:48:00Z")
rape has occured in other animals, so i would guess that it is possible for someone to get enough sexual arousal from being the victom to perform their function
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### Author:  [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/12 "2000-04-09T20:18:00Z")
I must add that many women who are raped do in fact get aroused to a degree. This is the source of even more post-rape guilt from women, but it’s a totally natural thing: the body feels sex, the body thinks that sex is supposed to feel good, so the body starts feeling good (and presumably gets lubricated somewhat), even if everything else about the woman is feeling anything but good…
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Yer pal,
Satan
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### Author:  [@brooklyn44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brooklyn44)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/13 "2000-04-09T20:24:00Z")
Thank you for telling us how women feel, Satan. In my experience talking with friends who have been raped, and in one instance when I thought I was in danger of being sexually assaulted, fear of injury and possible death do not lead to lubrication.
Renee
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### Author:  [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/14 "2000-04-09T20:55:00Z")
Renee:
I’m very sorry that a proven scientific and physiological fact bothers you. Though I am quite sure that you did not have this happen to you, many rape victims do indeed report this happening to them.
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Yer pal,
Satan
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### Author:  [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/15 "2000-04-09T21:10:00Z")
Satan, I think an important distinction oughta be made here: between physiological response (lubrication, physiological arousal) and how it feels – normally, good, but under these circumstances most often not.
Many rapists and apologists for rape have used the argument that “If she gets wet, that means she’s enjoying it so it’s not rape”, which is a variant on “If you’re gonna get raped why not just lay back and enjoy it”, isn’t it?
Rape victims who spoke out in public at a forum I attended said they had occasionally experienced arousal and even orgasm, but that it wasn’t pleasant. Most common descriptive language included “being dissolved” and “being erased”. Also the guilt that you mentioned.
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Disable Similes in this Post
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### Author:  [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/16 "2000-04-09T21:13:00Z")
I was raped by someone I _thought_ was a good friend. I was totally plastered (never got that drunk again, you can be sure), and was unable to stop him. All I can remember about that was I was crying, begging him to not do this, and feeling a lot of pain. I think I must have been pretty dry, and I hurt like H\*\*\* for several days afterwards, and had some spotting of blood.
Fear was not a good lubricator for me, at least, and I will not presume to speak for anyone else.
This is the first time I have ever told anyone this, except for a very few close friends.
Man, this was _hard_.
I hope it helps to answer your questions, Ruffian.
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You are more than a human being, you are a human becoming.
Og Mandino
That’s my name, not a description. I am neither purple nor a bear. Okay, so I’m purple.\
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### Author:  [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/17 "2000-04-09T21:16:00Z")
Hell of a post for my 500th. Damn.
'Scuse my bad language.
* * *
You are more than a human being, you are a human becoming.
Og Mandino
That’s my name, not a description. I am neither purple nor a bear. Okay, so I’m purple.\
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### Author:  [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/18 "2000-04-09T21:36:00Z")
I’m not that good with words but,
I wish I could be there just to offer what little I could.
I might be 1000’s of miles away your hurt still reached this far.
Hope my comfort reaches you.
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### Author:  [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/19 "2000-04-09T21:44:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Originally posted by casdave:
> \*\*I wish I could be there just to offer what little I could.
> I might be 1000’s of miles away your hurt still reached this far.
> Hope my comfort reaches you.
>
> \*\*
Thank you. It did. \
I knew there were awesome people here, you are one of them.
* * *
You are more than a human being, you are a human becoming.
Og Mandino
That’s my name, not a description. I am neither purple nor a bear. Okay, so I’m purple.\
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### Author:  [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2000, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape/10101/20 "2000-04-09T21:57:00Z")
Awww purplebear! ☹
Well, it may not have been the most _cheerful_ post to have for your 500th, but it is a post to be proud of. By telling us your painful story, you fought ignorance. Thank you.
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