[.ca] I Never Called It Rape (ISBN 0060925728)

mental health professional recommends it:
I have worked as a clinical social worker and a school psychologist, have done a lot of work with child sexual abuse victims and some work with teen and adult rape victims. This is an excellent book for the general reader; it uses a research base but does not use statistical or research jargon. All teens, male or female, could benefit from reading this book, hopefully before they are in crisis or specific need of it. High school health or communication classes could use it. Adults will find it equally useful. Helpful ideas to improve the odds of prevention (no one can guarantee one's safety from rape), signs to help you realize when your companion may not be safe, helping yourself or a friend get through having had the experience of rape by an acquaintance, why men also benefit from understanding this information, and much more.

Wonderful insight:
What a wonderfully honest book! It shares the heartbreak of what rape does to the human soul. I also highly recommend reading Peaceful Heart: A Woman's Journey of Healing, by Aimee Jo Martin....a book that is a true testament to the human spirit.

I really was raped!:
This book is wonderful!!!! It was because of this book that I realized that what happened to me was indeed rape and as I result I decided to press charges against my rapist and he will be spending years behind bars. I didn't know that coersion was rape! In June of 2002 I was raped by a boyfriend . . somebody who I thought loved me. While being raped my boyfriend told me that I was a slut, that I teased him, that I got what I wanted and it was his turn to get what he wanted, that if I loved him I would have sex with him. For six hours he tried to convince me to have sex with him!! I kept saying no that I didn't want to do anything beyond kissing. I just got so upset confused about everything and the next thing I no he's on top of me and raping me and I felt so guilty. The rape was mostly through coersion but there was little force. I thought that it was my fault and he was just kinda horney. I mean I thought rapist drugged their victims, used a gun or other weapon, and rape was only through penis/vagina sex. But it isn't I was digitally penetrated(like 10 times) which is rape!!!! I would have not realized this is if weren't for reading this book. I put a sick rapist behind bars and I thank this book for giving me the understanding and courage to do it. Fellow rape victims lets break the silence: lets speak out agaisnt rape!!! Report the crime to the police if not for yourself but for the next victim...And please read I Never Called It Rape

College Educator's opinion:
I find this book to be an excellent referral however, i'd prefer to see a revised edition. The statistics are outdated but the story is excellent.

A book every woman should read:
If you know someone who is going off to college or moving out on her own, recovering from a divorce or anything ~~ or simply because you love her, this is a book I highly recommend for you to give to her. It talks about date rape/acquaintance rape ~~ a subject that isn't talked about very often ~~ and you will find resources in this book to help a survivor recover ~~ or even to prevent a rape from happening. And I recommend young men reading this book too. It shows the other side of rape ~~ a man may think that a woman "teased" him and that she really wanted it ~~ but oftentimes, it leaves lasting scars ~~ not just on the victims but also on the rapists too. Both men and women need to be educated on what date rape is ~~ it is more common than people think. When a woman says no, a man is trained by society that she really means yes ~~ but that isn't the case. Rape is when a sexual act is committed against a woman's will ~~ even if she knows her attacker. It's downright disturbing and there are many women who have survived date rape. Did you know that "stranger rape" occurs very rarely but "acquaintance rape" occurs more often? Also, did you know that even if a woman stops dating a man, he can still rape her? There are all kinds of stories in this book that the author shares with the reader to warn them of this issue. This book will share with you how to recognize the danger signals and how to prevent a rape from happening. If it happens, there is advice on what to do next. It explores the statistics of numerous studies performed on this topic and it's downright scary. But there are people fighting it and so can you. Just read this book, and pass it on. I truly believe every woman going off to college or moving out on her own or even entering her teen years should have a copy of this. It shouldn't be a topic to ignore ~~ it should be talked about and shared ~~ it is a serious issue and one that every woman needs to be aware of. I have a young cousin going off to college and this is one book I would like to send to her. For all you moms, dads, grandmas, aunts, sisters, cousins, friends should think of the young women (and young men) in your family or circle of friends and think of how you should arm them with knowledge on how to prevent acquaintance rape from happening. But not only women need to read this book, men should too. They should sit down with their sons and tell them that "no means no." And that they should resist pressure from other men in raping a woman. Acquaintance rape is very damaging to women and to men as well. It wreaks havoc on the fragile fabric of society itself. Pick it up ~~ I don't think you'll regret it as one can never have too much information about a topic like this one.