This essay is a selective review of Nordic literature with the aim to explore contemporary conceptions of male-on-female rape, to increase the understanding of how these can construct “a real rape”. To achieve this two questions were formulated: What circumstances can cause an incident not to be defined as rape? What circumstances can cause an incident to be defined as rape? Searches in international and Swedish databases led to initial selection of peer-review journal articles and dissertations that were reviewed against set criteria. These criteria were met by 8 studies, that were assigned codes, from which comprehensive categories were developed. The categories were analysed using Yvonne Hirdman’s concepts gender, separation and male superiority. The analysis shows that circumstances connected to the overall categories Situation, Victim and Offender construct “a real rape”. The circumstances are Relation, Alcohol, Saying no and how it is done, The woman’s sexuality, Resistance, How the woman feels afterwards, Physical violence, and Ordinary, normal and good men. It seems easier to define an incident as rape when these circumstances occur the “right” way. In conclusion, rape is constructed as a rather narrow concept which could make it difficult for women to name experiences as rape.