Is it rape? Is it illegal? My 37 year old neighbor has a really low IQ?

Her IQ is about that of a 7 year old's; she's also very weak physically. A male 'friend' has got her pregnant.. She's hysterical about it. He's taken off. Is what he did rape? Is it a police matter? We don't know what to do to help her. What do you folks think is the best course of action?

She doesn't 'feel' raped salthough she does think he did her wrong. I'm reluctant to use the word rape in case it makews her feel really victimised. I do care about her future and her emotional well being; I will report this to the authorities, but they police won't help her emotionally. I hope they get the b!!

Rape is very difficult to prove, in such cases. She needs counselling, ASAP, to maximise her options. See http://www.vaonline.org/support.html and call (USA) 1800 656 HOPE Email jo@samaritans.org Check out the state, and national associations for intellectually impaired people on this: they will definitely have dealt with it before.

I'd tell social services. I think it's against the law.

It's rape in every state. Call the police and a rape crisis center. Get her treated.

It depends, if she wanted to have sex with him then its not rape. If he forced himself onto her then it is. Find out what happened with they had sexual intercourse and if he forced himself on her or not. If he did, like the other girl said below me social services or a help line to figure everything out.

if your really concerned, call the police. Would you rather be cautious, and at least try to help; or be lazy, and show no support at all?

I believe in this case, it would be rape because she is not mentally capable of making the decision whether or not to consent to sex, so he should have not gone there with her. I agree a social worker or even talking to the police would be best to figure out the best course of action.

If her IQ is abou that of a 7 yr. old and she is on disability, then her body has been violated not only physically, but mentally also. Yes this is a police matter, and she has been raped. Your local police should be contacted , and a report should be made A.S.A P. Also if she is seeing a therapise, or a councelour this should be reported. Rape is serouse, and can be mentaly damaging. She will need all the support she can get. There is a national crisis line she can call. It should be listed in your local phone book. Try callin your local crisis center they will have the phone number for you. Please dont ignore this.
Good luck
Alabama

yes i would say rape she doesnt have the IQ to know what happen we had a few of these issues at a state metnal facilty i worked at they got socail workers involed the lady had a b/f that was on drugs but had a regualr mantalitty however u spell it and she has the mind of a 10 yrold if even that and got prego and he just screwed her cuz he was a sicko so we ended up takin care of the baby and he got rape charge.the state got full custody

WOW! In court if you can prove that she has the mental capacity of a 7yr old through a therapist or something then I definatly think that he would be convicted! Thats sick! Its bad enough when it happens to someone of normal brain capacity!

Poor woman! Yes, if she's judged not to have the capability to consent, it's rape. It usually comes under age of consent (if, say, the age is sixteen and a fifteen-year-old consents to, say, sex with a twenty-year-old, the twenty-year-old can be accused of statuatory rape), but if this woman has the intelligence of a seven-year-old, it's definitely rape.

I would contact the police and ask for advice.