y crave sex (8). More widespread is the idea that rapes are caused by a sudden uncontrollable explosion of male desire, ignited by the behavior of a provocatively sexy woman (9). One thing has been clear, which is that many rape victims were subjected to institutionalized sexism, which began with their treatment by the police, continued through the legal system, much influenced by notions of victim precipitation, and ended with the acquittal of many rapists.During the past two decades, many rape scholars have been feeling nothing but sorrow for the exceedingly high rate of attrition in rape cases, especially acquaintance cases. According to one authority, "the likelihood of a rape complaint actually ending in conviction is generally estimated at 25%" (15). Recent crime-victim survey data suggest that each year an estimated 500,000 women are victims of some form of rape or sexual assault (22). Yet in 1994, only 102,096 rapes were reported to authorities, and ultimately there were only an estimated 36,610 arrests for forcible rape 922). Data from several jurisdictions, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported that 98% of rape victims "never see their attacker caught, tried, and imprisoned" (24). One goal of the rape shield law was to reduce the rape victim's ordeal in the justice system and to increase reporting rates. Many scholars believe that the proportion of victims who report rapes has risen in recent decades. For example, one study concludes that the national proportion of rape victims who reported the crime rose by 105 between 1980 and 1990, showing an increase but one greater than for non-sexual assault and robbery showing a 12% decrease (27).The single most common reason for failure to press charges was to avoid the ordeal of the courtroom, where the victim anticipated that she would be blamed for the crime and embarrassing questions would be raised about her sexual habitation, for example, an abortion, use of birth contr...
