Jeffrey R. Benedict

About the author: Jeffrey R. Benedict is a sociologist who has conducted extensive research on the problem of college athletes and violence against women. He is the author of Athletes and Acquaintance Rape, from which the following viewpoint is excerpted.

Professional and college athletes have become renowned for their sexual promiscuity and are viewed by the public as having easy access to sex with female "groupies." This commonly held perception has insulated athletes from legal consequences when women accuse them of acquaintance rape. Jurors are not easily convinced that high-profile athletes would need to resort to force in order to have sex with women who are stereotyped as eager groupies. As a result, prosecutors are frequently persuaded to lessen or drop rape charges against athletes, even though acquaintance rape...