Rape is a violent crime that is motivated by power, not by sex. It’s an increasingly common crime, too – in fact, the rape rate has increased four times faster than the overall crime rate in the last decade. You need to be aware of the danger of rape, and take steps to protect yourself – and know what to do if it should happen to you.

• How to protect yourself from rape and other violent crimes
  Here’s a short list of things you can do to help protect yourself from rape and other violent crimes:
• Trust your instincts. This is the most important step you can take to protect yourself! Many rape victims say that before they were attacked, they had a feeling something was wrong but dismissed their fears. Women have been conditioned by society to always be “nice” – if you feel threatened, put “niceness” aside and take steps to ensure your safety.
• Pay attention to your surroundings. Whenever you’re in a public place, pay attention to what’s going on around you – and not just at night. As many rapes happen during the day as during the night. Walk with confidence and good posture – looking scared or distracted may increase your chances of becoming a victim.
• Be careful when you’re driving alone. Lock your doors while driving and when you leave the car. Park in a well-lit place, and avoid parking next to vans without windows. Have your keys ready when you return to your car, so you don’t have to fumble in your purse – and check the backseat before you get in. If someone rear-ends you in a deserted area, don’t get out of the car – instead, use a cellular phone to call the police. If you don’t have a phone handy, roll the window down enough to tell the other driver to follow you to the nearest gas station and then report the accident. If someone follows you into your driveway, stay in the car and sound the horn to attract attention and scare him away.
• Stay sober at parties. Alcohol and drugs affect your judgment, making it harder to recognize a threatening situation. Whenever you’re with people you don’t know well, it’s wise to stay sharp.
• Be careful when you’re getting to know a new man. On a first date, let a friend know where you’re going and when you expect to return. Take your own car or double-date with a good friend. Beware if the man seems to treat you as his inferior or if he’s jealous or intimidating. Pay your own way and stay sober.
• Lock yourself in at home. Keep your doors and first-floor windows locked. Never open the door to someone you don’t know – ask service people for I.D., especially if you’re not expecting them. Refuse to let someone in if you feel uneasy.
• About date or acquaintance rape
• It’s not true that most rapists are from a different race or ethnic background than their victims. Another misconception is that most rapists are strangers who grab victims from parking lots or break into their homes. Actually, some 90 percent of sexual assaults happen between people of the same race – and 80 percent of rapes are perpetrated by someone the victim knows. It’s called date or acquaintance rape.
• There is a long-standing belief in our society that forced sex between two people that know each other is seduction, not rape. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth – if you say no and he forces you, it’s rape, regardless of who the perpetrator is or how long you’ve known him.
• Many rape victims have a tendency to blame themselves for what happened – this is especially true of date rape victims. They often look back and accuse themselves of leading the rapist on or being too provocative, or they get angry at themselves because they were drunk or didn’t fight back.
• If it should happen to you, it’s important that you remember that it’s not your fault – you absolutely did not “deserve it,” regardless of the circumstances.
• What to do if you’re attacked
  Once a sexual assault has begun, it’s hard not to panic – but you must stay calm so you can improve your chances of getting away safely. How you choose to respond to a sexual attack depends on how you assess the situation – and only you can make that judgment call. Here are some strategies to consider:
• Run away. This may be your best bet for getting away, especially if your attacker is unarmed. Your decision may depend on your shoes, the terrain and if you can get to a public place quickly. If you see others, yell, scream and wave your hands – don’t worry about looking silly! You need to attract as much attention as you can.
• Attract attention. If you’re near a public place, you may decide to attract attention by screaming as loud as you can. However, if you’re in an isolated setting, screaming probably isn’t a good idea, because he may try to silence you.
• Fight back. There is no guarantee that fighting back will work, and it may increase your chances of becoming seriously injured – so you may decide not to, especially if he’s threatening you with a weapon. If you do choose to fight, fight dirty and decisively with improvised weapons like car keys, a fork, pen or book. Your attacker may be much bigger than you – but everyone has sensitive areas, including the groin, eyes and the instep of the foot. According to the Nashville Police Department, 55 percent of rape victims who choose not to fight back get injured anyway – so fighting back may be a good option.
• Act vulgar or crazy. This strategy may be especially effective against date rapes. Tell your attacker that you’ve got a sexually transmitted disease, that you’ve got your period or are pregnant. Physical things might work, too – get hysterical, urinate on the floor or vomit. Generally, these methods should be used as a last resort.
• Stall for time. Again, this strategy may be especially effective against date rapes. Get your attacker talking – the longer you can delay, the better. Buying time may improve the chance that the situation will change so that you can get away safely – someone else may come by or your attacker may lose his nerve, for example.
Get a description. Finally, if you don’t know your attacker, try and get a good physical description. This can be especially hard if it’s dark, your eyes are covered or he’s wearing a mask, but anything you notice will be of help to the police.
Here’s a quick list of things to note:
• Race and approximate age, height and weight
• Hair and eye color
• Identifying marks like tattoos or scars
• Clothing and jewelry
• His voice – what he says and his accent, grammar and tone
• What to do if you'e been raped
  If you’ve been raped, call the police immediately. Here’s a checklist of what to do next:
• Don’t douche, shower or change clothes. As much as you may want to, these things destroy important evidence that can be used against your attacker.
• Don’t disturb the scene of the attack. Again, you might destroy important physical evidence like fingerprints. Once the police arrive, they will take you to a hospital emergency room for an examination. Here’s what you can expect: