Despite what others in your high school or college may tell you, most people’s early sexual experiences are not something to shout about. They can end with both parties feeling embarrassed and confused about what just happened.
Sometimes, one party can accuse the other of date rape after the event. There are many reasons they could do this.
- Maybe they genuinely do not remember what happened due to consuming alcohol or recreational drugs and were upset to wake up and realize they had sex. They may believe they would not have knowingly consented, so it must be rape.
- Perhaps their parents or friends found out, and they make up a rape story to avoid being punished or ridiculed.
- Alternatively, it could be down to a lack of clear communication between the two parties at the time. What one person thought was alright was not actually alright with the other person.
Or course, in many cases, a person has a clear justification for making a date rape accusation. They may have made it clear they did not want sex or wanted to stop, but the other person continued regardless of their wishes. Perhaps the other person used force or violence or drugged them.
Date rape cases can be incredibly distressing, not only for the parties themselves but also for their family and friends. As a teenager, the best thing you can do to protect yourself from being accused is to always get explicit consent from the other party. As hard as it may seem when you are nervous and inexperienced, it is far easier to do this than deal with the fallout of potential accusations. If your partner has been drinking or taking drugs, it may be better to wait until they are sober and entirely conscious of their decisions and actions.
If someone has accused you of date rape, seek urgent legal help. Being convicted could land you in jail and on the sex offenders registry.