 Theorists have different views about the conditions under which it is reasonable for a man to believe that a woman is consenting to sexual intercourse. Husak and Thomas (1992) argue that there are social and behavioral conventions (or “courtship rituals”) by which women manifest their willingness to have sex, and that where a woman has engaged in such conventions, it is reasonable for a man to believe she is consenting to sexual intercourse. Archard (1997) argues forcefully against this view, however, pointing out that any such conventions are likely to be ambiguous and not universally understood (particularly since research shows that men routinely interpret women’s behavior in more sexual terms than women mean or intend), that a man risks doing serious harm by relying on his beliefs about such conventions, and that there is a ready alternative to risking such harm, namely, inquiring explicitly as to his partner’s consent or lack thereof.