TEEN RAPES DO not occur in a social or cultural vacuum. The prevailing view among social scientists is that the root causes lie in the wider culture that condones or tolerates sexual aggression, particularly against women. Contributing factors include: the continued imbalance in power between men and women in society; a climate of disrespect toward women; the widespread portrayal of girls and women in the media as sex objects; the glorification of violence and the linking of sex and violence; widespread myths about rape; and gender-role socialization.

Moreover, research indicates that rape-supportive attitudes are notably prevalent in adolescent subculture. As they develop their own sexual identities, teenagers often feel anxious about their attractiveness and acceptability to peers. In response to their feelings of insecurity and uncertainty, some teens embrace rigid sex-role stereotypes that are associated with condoning or excusing rape...