John Paul Rigilano's claim that "rape is one of the many reproductive strategies of men" ("Reader reiterates view of violent rape," Jan. 16) reveals not only misinformation on rape, but also on procreation. If men rape as a forceful attempt to pass on their genes, why do rape victims include infants, the
elderly, men and pre-pubescent boys and girls? Why are they not restricted to women in the reproductive age range?

While attacks against victims of both genders and all ages may indeed provide rapists with sexual gratification, the rape of individuals from these categories will obviously not result in pregnancy. The suggestion that all men are "genetically predisposed to rape" as a way of ensuring reproduction is far-fetched and unsupported by the facts. Aside from forgetting the wide range of victims, Rigilano also ignored statistics on whom the rapists actually are.

In 80 percent of all reported rapes, the victim knows her attacker; he is most often an acquaintance, friend or boyfriend. Only one out of five rapes include an attack by a stranger, a "loser" who "has no other choice but to rape." The majority of rapists in reported cases are people who have previously been trusted by the victim, most likely not someone who "deals drugs, doesn't have an education, and commits crimes." I commend Rigilano's assertion that rape is "a hateful crime that harms and humiliates the victims." I couldn't agree more.

But the next time you decide to pinpoint the most misogynistic crime in our society down to a single, general cause, please check your facts and try to understand the complexity of the problem.