It is my understanding that date rape quite often involves an unconscious woman, rendered so by the so-called "date-rape" drug. That she may remember nothing should have no bearing on whether there is prosecution based on hard evidence.

It pisses me off that women are still told they must watch how they dress in order to be safe, yet men think nothing of running around with no shirts, are shown in tv commercials nearly naked, etc. The whole of society is so fucked up about women's bodies and the do's and don'ts of dress, walking, gesturing, acting, dancing, etc.

I was raped by a former boyfriend who came to my house drunk. I had no idea that was what he'd planned. He was violent and there was no one nearby to hear my cries for help. The jerk had the nerve to try to hold me and apologise afterwards. Did I call the cops? No, partly because there was still a stigma against women who claimed rape by friends or family. Do I regret it? No. He went on to have a miserable life, then died. Luckily I had a good network of friends and a crisis center staff who counseled me. BUT, it still pisses me off that we have a double standard STILL of what is perceived to be acceptable for men and what that perception is for women.

A rape is a rape is a rape. No platitudes about it. Doesn't matter if one knows the rapist or not and it IS often about power, not sex.

If the case in the UK was so weak, why did the prosecutor go so far as to take it to court? They must have thought there was some just cause?

kat