Recent examinations have placed importance on gender equality and women’s independence as determinants of violence against women. These examinations have resulted in mixed results about the importance of different theoretical constructs and levels of analysis. This examination integrates macro strain constructs with the feminist perspective and utilizes the Uniform Crime Reports U.S Census data from year 2000 to determine how gender differences in social and economic status can be used to explain rape rates in the 75 most populated Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs). Implications for future research based on these results are presented and discussed.