Back to School = Back to Date Rape

[Dana Sheets]

http://eserver.org/bs/22/rentschler.html

The above link takes you to a wonderful article written in 1995 that speaks to some of the harsh realities of campus life. College freshman women, caught up in their independence, caught up in Greek life, caught up in whatever often end up the victims of sexual assault.

My father gave my brother a condom when he went to college. My father gave me mace.

Date rape happens off-campus as well. The start of high school is marked by worldly seniors scoping out the new crowd of freshman girls...young ladies eager to establish their place in the social hierarchy of high school who too quickly end up being assulted during the party following the first home football game.

Yes - sometimes girls are just out there making bad choices. However an incredible number of young women are victims of date rate every year. I strongly urge any parents who have daughters and sons in high school or college to have some very candid discussions about date rape. How it can happen, how it can be prevented, and what to do if the worst comes to pass.

Today young adults are becomming sexually active at astonishingly young ages. Oral sex is rampant in many middle schools. That means 6th, 7th and 8th graders. 10, 11, 12 year olds. I've also talked with teachers who've dealt with sexually active students as young as 3rd grade.

It's not too early to start having these conversations - and as is true with any important topic, it's best to have them more than once.

Here are some resources:
Talking About Date Rape
http://www.familyeducation.com/article/ ... -1,00.html
(Includes an interview with Gavin DeBecker and a link to buy his book "Protecting the Gift")

Resisting Pressure to Have Sex
http://www.rape101.com/resisting_pressu ... ve_sex.htm

"Talking with you Daughter about sex"
http://www.parentsoup.com/teens/date/ar ... -1,00.html

"Talking with your Teen about sex"
http://www.pta.org/Programs/hivlibr/talkteen.htm

"Talking with your Child about sex"
http://www.pta.org/Programs/hivlibr/chldsex.htm

"Tips for Avoiding Date Rape"
http://www.allprodad.com/7daterape.asp

Dating without Fear: Helping Your Daughter Have Fun and Stay Safe
http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,6055,00.html

What's a Boy to Do? Talking to Our Sons about Sex and Limits
http://www.familyeducation.com/article/ ... 79,00.html

A list of Articles on Dating Violence
http://www.myschoolonline.com/topic/fro ... 98,00.html

Straight Talk for Boys (also contains links to other articles)
http://www.rape101.com/for_boys.htm