DURING THE ATTACK, THE VICTIMS FEARED THAT THEY WOULD BE MURDERED. THUS, THEY WERE SOMEWHAT RELIEVED WHEN THEY REALIZED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SERVIVE THE ATTACK. GENERALLY, DEPRESSION OR A SENSE OF DEGRADATION WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE IMMEDIATE POSTRAPE EXPERIENCE. THE VICTIMS ENCOUNTERED INDIFFERENCE AT HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS FROM ATTENDANTS AND EXAMINING PHYSICIANS. THIS, COUPLED WITH THE KNOWLDGE THAT A RAPIST WILL PROBABLY ONLY SERVE 2 YEARS OF A 10-YEAR SENTENCE IF APPREHENDED AT ALL, PERHAPS ACCOUNTS FOR WHY SO MANY RAPES GO UNREPORTED. THE RAPE VICTIM OFTEN FEELS THAT SHE IS EXPECTED TO BEAR A PORTION OF THE GUILT, BUT WHAT SHE GENUINELY NEEDS IS MORE UNDERSTANDING. ALL THE WOMEN INTERVIEWED STRESSED THAT, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECOVERED FROM THEIR ORDEAL, IT REQUIRED A DIFFICULT AND LENGTHY HEALING PROCESS. ONE OF THE WOMEN, WHO PUBLISHED A DIARY SHE KEPT OF HER POSTRAPE FEELINGS, NOW LECTURES ON THE PROBLEMS FACING RAPE VICTIMS. (BAC)