Hello! This has been bothering me for a while now and I can't seem to get over it. I have an extreme fear of being raped. It seems like every time I'm alone with a man I don't trust or don't know, the thought pops into my head. Even at work sometimes (I cashier at a local Wal-Mart), I feel like some men are 'undressing me with their eyes'. What can I do to get over this? --Kristen =)

Thanks for your note to Feminist.com and I'm sorry that you are having such painful thoughts and feelings. I wish I could say that "It will go away" but I have no guarantee of that. A similar thing happened to a friend of mine--unfortunately, she discovered that the root cause was that she had been sexually abused by her father at an early age. Of course, this does not mean that this is what happened to you. This could be a possibility and/or because it could be something entirely different, regardless I suggest that you go to a therapist to discuss your situation. They are much better qualified to help you get through this than I am. Hopefully you can locate one near you through the database of women's services at Feminist.com. You might also want to reference our Violence Against Women section. Let me know if you need anything else.
—Amy