The overall literature available on this theory is more or less mixed as some studies claim that there is nor relation between the two concepts (Pelletier & Herold, 1988), whereas others state that rape fantasies are high where women are sexually suppressed (Hariton & Singer, 1974), yet another study concluded that the women who had higher ratio of rape fantasy were mentally more healthy towards the concept of sex (Gold et al., 1991; Shulman & Horne, 2006) and experienced lower levels of shame (Shulman & Horne, 2006; Strassberg & Lockerd, 1998). Hence, it is important to analyze whether there is actual link between rape fantasies and the sexual guilt phenomenon.
Openness to Sexual Experience
The philosophy of the openness to sexual experience is in direct opposition to the sexual blame avoidance phenomenon. Here the idea is that having rape fantasies is part of the sexual identity and need of a woman (Gold et al., 1991; Pelletier & Herold, 1988; Strassberg & Lockerd, 1998). Pelletier and Herold (1988) explained that the number or ratio of sexual fantasies of a woman was directly proportional to her active sex life i.e. The ratios sexual acts and partners that she has had. This simply denotes that with the amount of sexual acts increasing, the overall mindset of the extent of a sexual act also increases and hence includes the very different scenario of a rape fantasy as well. However, there is a lot that still needs to be explored in the relationship between the actual sexual life of a woman and her sexual fantasies. Most researchers agree that while this may be true for sexual fantasies, the rape fantasies might be different because women with high rape fantasies might not have experienced the actual act (Gold et al., 1991; Gold & Clegg, 1990; Kanin, 1982).
Desirability
Desirability is another factor in the existence of rape fantasies. This philosophy mainly portrays the woman as being sexually more powerful then the man and is hence more inducing in nature to get the main to lose control of his emotions, get overcome with his desire for her and sexually rape her (Hariton, 1973; Heiman et al., 1976; Kanin, 1982; Knafo & Jaffe, 1984). Kanin (1982) explains that this boosts the confidence a woman has in her sexuality and excites her and many researches have supported the claim that the desirability of a man for a woman is a huge factor in any sexual act (Graham, Sanders, Milhausen, & McBride, 2004). Zurbriggen and Yost (2004) in their study explained that a man's desire played a huge role in the rape fantasies as well. However, no empirical and statistical data has been able to link desirability and high rape fantasies.
Male Rape Culture
Brownmiller (1975) in her study explains that the rape fantasies were a cultural phenomenon and an aftermath of the male-dominant society where the man is painted as the controlling and managing provoker of desire in women and women are depicted as the weak sufferer of the man's control and power. She feels that the women's own sexual growth and ideas have been suppressed and the man's ideologies and approaches towards sex have been engrained in them and have dominated them in the formation of their fantasies too. She feels that this is yet another way for men to conform women to do what they want. There is not a lot of data in support or against this study but certain researchers have analyzed that while the rape fantasies are high amongst women, only 15-20% of men have rape fantasies where they are dominated (Hunt, 1974; Person et al., 1989; Sue, 1979).
Biological Predisposition to Surrender
The philosophy of Biological Predisposition to Surrender basically highlights that the man has to be able to restrain the woman to an extent to conduct any form of copulation and this is one of the reasons behind the woman's high ratio of rape fantasies as they allow the domination of man (Fisher, 1999). Furthermore, Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1989) analyzes that the hero-victim phenomenon played by man-woman respectively is very obvious amongst animals and have existed from ancient times only to progress into what its is now. Helen Fisher (1999) explains that the nature of a woman is inclined towards compromising and conceding which forms the basis for fantasies but that doesn't necessarily related to rape fantasies because there is nor logic or evidence to believe that women make an effort to ask for rape. Furthermore, she says that the overall reproductive cycle of a woman is restricted and rape does result in impregnations from men with lose and filthy characters. This she explains hampers the entire process of reproduction and negatively influences the entire family...
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