Dr Linda Helps - Marital rape is real and a crime in all 50 states. It is estimated that 10-14% of married women in the United States are raped by their husbands (Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse). While 17 states and the District of Columbia give no exemptions from rape prosecution for husbands, 33 states still have exemptions.

A husband who rapes his wife usually does so multiple times. Because these women live with their abusers, emotional consequences are devastating. Marital rape is usually categorized in these three ways:

1) Force-only rape in which a husband uses force to coerce his wife
2) Battering rape in which physical violence is also involved before or during a sexual assault
3) Sadistic/obsessive type rape in which torture or perverse sexual acts are involved. Pornography is often included.

Studies by Diana Russell (1990) and Finkelhor and Yllo (1985) found that marital rape:

· Occurs in all types of marriages

· Includes a variety of ages, with most occurring under the age of 25

· Is reported more by lower socio-class women

· Is reported at higher rates by African American women than Caucasian, Latinas and Asian women

· Is less likely to be defined as rape by Latina women

· Prompts more Caucasian women to leave their husbands compared to other ethnic/racial groups studied

· Is viewed as self-blame more often by traditional wives

Risk factors for marital rape include:

· Women married to men who view them as property and are domineering  (This is not definitive but often reported by women)

· Physical violence in the marriage (Frieze, 1983)

· Women who try to leave their abusers (Finkelhor & Yllo, 1985)

· Women who are pregnant (Bergen, 1996)

· Women who are ill, recovering from surgery and discharged from the hospital (Campbell & Alford, 1989)

· Separation and divorce (Dobash & Dobash, 1992)

Marital rape is a serious form of sexual abuse and violence against women. It is often downplayed by others including service providers. If you need more information about marital rape, contact:

Center for Constitutional Rights
666 Broadway 7th Floor
New York, NY 10012
212-614-6464

Ask for their brochure (Spanish or English) called “Stopping Sexual Assault”.