# Why don't prison rape victims just "lock up"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 17, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724 "2004-10-17T22:07:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sassafras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@Sassafras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassafras)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/41 "2004-10-18T17:31:19Z")
> [@alterego](#): > > Wouldn’t the best defense against a prison rape be to not poop very often and then release it all on the perpetrator? I’m pretty sure that in women’s self-defense classes they teach them to puke, pee, or crap as a good defense mechanism. This is hearsey though, as I haven’t attended 🙂 I have VIVID memories of attending rape prevention classes in high school and being told this. They told us we could try dropping to the ground and eating grass, vomiting , peeing, etc. This was over 20 years ago ,though. I also know a few people who haved served some prison time (including a brother who apparently can’t learn from past mistakes ) and they have told me that they never saw any rapes, nor were they ever even approached. I’m thinking that it happens, but not as much as we all think it does. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/42 "2004-10-18T17:34:07Z")
> [@Sassafras](#): > > I have VIVID memories of attending rape prevention classes in high school and being told this. They told us we could try dropping to the ground and eating grass, vomiting , peeing, etc. This was over 20 years ago ,though. > > I also know a few people who haved served some prison time (including a brother who apparently can’t learn from past mistakes ) and they have told me that they never saw any rapes, nor were they ever even approached. I’m thinking that it happens, but not as much as we all think it does. Phew…I was starting to think I was crazy =) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/43 "2004-10-18T18:20:52Z")
OK, I took my self defence courses less than ten years ago. Perhaps it’s a change int he time? And once you’re in the capter’s possession, I would be loath to do anything to piss him off more. Yeah, my peeing or whatever may stop the rape but probably not the severe beating that I receive next. And besides, what if he likes golden showers? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/44 "2004-10-18T18:35:10Z")
I _have_ heard of the suggestion to make oneself throw up or worse, but it was never when rape was imminent - which to me means he’s got you pinned down, there is NO escape, and your clothes are pulled down. I had heard the suggestion as something to do if you’re being followed or someone accosts you but in a manner in which if you can distract him, you can run away. E.g., if you’re being followed, turn around, act like an insane person, and stick your finger down your throat while giggling wildly like Mrs. Rochester. Maybe that will scare the guy off. I just don’t think getting a rapist mad - when the rape is **imminent** - is wise. I’d rather be raped quietly than be raped AND severely beaten because the guy was mad that I got him disgustingly filthy. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Sassafras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@Sassafras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassafras)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/45 "2004-10-18T18:35:52Z")
> [@Elenia28](#): > > OK, I took my self defence courses less than ten years ago. Perhaps it’s a change int he time? > > And once you’re in the capter’s possession, I would be loath to do anything to piss him off more. Yeah, my peeing or whatever may stop the rape but probably not the severe beating that I receive next. And besides, what if he likes golden showers? :eek: I completely agree- I am sure puking on a would-be rapist would earn you a really good beatdown, and may not even spare you the rape. The advice we were given circa 1980 just made us all laugh rather than take it seriously. Especially the eating grass bit. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/46 "2004-10-18T21:17:13Z")
> [@choie](#): > > It’s probably just me being uptight, but the somewhat ‘lighthearted’ tone to this thread is a bit unsettling. I won’t be a hypocrite and claim I’ve never told an off-color or tasteless joke, but I have to admit I’ve never understood the lightheartedness of prison rape either. I remember Jay Leno making prison rape jokes about Robert Downey, Jr. and the Menendez brothers and thinking “gee… sexual assault, rectal tearing, bleeding, possibility of slow death from STDs… what’s not to laugh at?” Had he made a joke about a woman, however despicable, being raped… ooh wah. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/47 "2004-10-18T23:25:53Z")
I would much rather be beaten near to death than raped. Making a would-be rapist mad is about the last thing on earth I would be worried about. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/48 "2004-10-19T00:00:04Z")
> [@alterego](#): > > I would much rather be beaten near to death than raped. Making a would-be rapist mad is about the last thing on earth I would be worried about. There’s the _exact_ attitude I wish could be changed. The idea that being raped is a “fate worse than death”. The “bad” is _never_ on the victim, and is _always_ on the rapist. Totally. If only there were some way to teach, or convince, the rape victim that she (and sometimes he) was totally blameless and not at all “dirtied” by the act. Grrr. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/49 "2004-10-19T03:58:22Z")
> [@PaulFitzroy](#): > > What if you just told the would-be rapists that you were a practicing homosexual and that you had tested positive for HIV/AIDS? Um. You’re about to get a penis shoved up your ass by another man and you expect him to care that you’re gay? I don’t see the logic in including that portion of the statement. Or about being a heroin addict further down either. Telling them you have HIV or AIDS is either going to scare them off or not (I expect the latter) and telling them how you got it is just wasted breath and energy. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/50 "2004-10-19T04:28:50Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > **Qadgop the Mercotan** , is prison rape as prevalent as we’re lead to believe? Does pretty much everyone get raped, at one point or another? My husband works in corrections, and for several years was the Investigator-- a position which entails examining complaints of criminal activity of both inmates and staff. Forcible, violent rape is not as common as Hollywood has led us to believe. During his tenure, he had no reports of violent rape, but did investigate three claims of “intimidation” rape. Most sexual assaults in prison are more coersive in nature than violent. The inmates refer to these victims as being “punked out.” Basically, the usual tactic of the rapist is to take a new inmate under his wing-- generally a young “kid” who is afraid and confused. Then, he pressures the victim by implying that without his protection, the “kid” will be hurt, and that the kid “owes” him. It’s really more along the lines of extortion than forcible rape. Sometimes, there are subtle threats of violence (but they’re careful not to say things which could actually be used against them). ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/51 "2004-10-19T13:30:28Z")
> [@](#): > > I would much rather be beaten near to death than raped. Making a would-be rapist mad is about the last thing on earth I would be worried about. Then you don’t mind being knifed to death or shot to death if you do something to get him mad? I would assume you mean it’s okay for you to be beaten “near” to death but not TO death, right? But how can you know the rapist is going to stop before you’re dead? Obviously this is a personal choice people make for their own reasons, but I can’t see how possibly being murdered is better than being raped. People can get over being raped. I am wondering if you are male or female and if that is a factor in your thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724/52 "2004-10-19T15:24:48Z")
I can’t say much about prison rape, but I can talk a bit about male-on-female stranger rape. In all cases, a rapist is looking for an easy target. They don’t want a fight. They look for the person that looks shy and doesn’t say anything when he starts moving in. They look for someone that walks with their head down. The best thing to do in a situation like this is to prove that you are not an easy target. You want to make yourself more trouble than your worth (it is also very important not to end up in a “second location”…resist with all your might being moved somewhere else). The best way to do this is to be firm and confident before anything violent happens. Rapist often scope out their victims- getting close and maybe talking to them to see how they react. This is a good time to say “No. Go away.” firmly and clearly. If it does get violent, it is important to fight back. Yell, scream, kick, punch, act crazy, do anything you can to convince the rapist that he doesn’t want to be around you. Twenty years ago they taught women to lay there nicely without complaining so they don’t piss off the rapist, but that isn’t a good way to prevent getting raped and it isn’t even a good way to prevent being beaten. Your best bet is always to fight back. This doesn’t mean that rape is a fate worse than death, it is just a sensible way to react to a potential rape. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-prison-rape-victims-just-lock-up/269724.md?page=2)