# Where Did The Belief That 'Rape Is Not About Sex' Originate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 17, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-belief-that-rape-is-not-about-sex-originate/219598 "2003-12-17T19:30:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-belief-that-rape-is-not-about-sex-originate/219598/61 "2003-12-19T19:22:23Z")
Oops, Person C should read “Person A”. ---
**Author:** ![boofy\_bloke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@boofy\_bloke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofy_bloke)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-belief-that-rape-is-not-about-sex-originate/219598/62 "2003-12-20T02:11:54Z")
“Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac”. That works both ways: as the powerful and the attracted to powerful. It is possible to “get off” on power trips with no sexual activity at all. Rape, being an expression of power, can therefore be less than a sexual act. Sex is just the mechanism for achieving power, akin to politics, money, red sports cars and promotions. **Malacandra** is not alone in being tempted by non-consensual sex. The male sex drive is often out of synch with their philosophy (morals/ethics/etc.) _in re_ rape. I’ve had strong urges at that time of the month to have sex with people who aren’t attracted to me (and aren’t even particularly attractive to me). Maybe _All men are rapists_, maybe not, but we certainly aren’t just warm fuzzy teddy bears. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-belief-that-rape-is-not-about-sex-originate/219598.md?page=3)