Sexual assault can be perpetrated by a husband, date, boyfriend, or acquaintance. It can involve rape as well as other unwanted sexual activity or sexually related physical violence. More Info

It is important to note that, although battered women are more at risk for marital rape than their non-battered counterparts, some men will rape their wives and never beat them and vice versa.

Acquaintance Rape
Acquaintance rape is sexual assault by someone known to the victim, but with whom she does not have a romantic relationship, such as a coworker, neighbor, or classmate. Force is often used but the rapist may also use alcohol or drugs to incapacitate the victim.

Date Rape
Date rape is sexual assault that occurs while on a date or between persons who hope to have (or already have) an intimate relationship. Date rape is frightingly common. Out of all reported rapes where the perpetrator was known to the victim, an estimated one-half occured during a date.

Marital Rape
Contrary to popular belief, sex on demand is not part of the marital contract and, in fact, all 50 states have laws that make it a crime for a husband to rape his wife. Any forced act of sex by a marital partner, ex-partner, or long-term partner is still considered sexual assault. And unlike other types of rape, victims of marital rape have the additional factor of having to live with the abuser which often leads to frequent occurances. In addition, not only are they violated sexually, but their most intimate and trusted emotions also have been been violated.

There are three types of marital rape:

• Battering rape - this is forced sex that occurs during a physical violence incident. It can also occur after a beating when the abuser demands his wife to have sex with him in order to prove her love for him or to forgive him for the beating. It is generally motivated by anger.
• Force-only rape - the abuser generally uses only as much force as is needed to coerce his wife into sexual activity. At the minimum, this may entail the use of physical intimidation or restraint. This type of marital rape is mainly motivated by the need for power or the abuser's assertion of male privilege.
• Obsessive rape - typically characterized by strange or perverse sexual interests held by the husband that the wife does not share. He often prefers to use force to carry out these activites with his wife. This is the least common type but many would agree that it is the most damaging.