Athletes and Acquaintance Rape
Paul Somaru
December 4th, 2017
Final Draft
Submitted for:
Criminology (SOCY 230)
Fall 2017
Dr. Schmitt
In Athletes and Acquaintance Rape, Jeffery Benedict takes a look at three
separate rape cases. Throughout these cases many variables are considered when
attempting to understand the common occurrence of athletes being accused of
sexual assault or rape. Benedict highlights many factors that he believes play of role
in this pressing issue. First Benedict explains that athletes live a much different
lifestyle than regular kids growing up. Benedict states, “young teenage boys who
possess the rare physical talents necessary to become professional athletes find
themselves receiving significant attention from adult figures” (Benedict, 1997: 10).
He insists that this high level of praise starting at a young age carries a different type
of responsibility in comparison to their youth counterparts. And that often times
once an individual reaches a high enough level of stardom in middle school or high
