United States Redefines Definition of Rape

Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Browsing through my usual internet fodder, I stumbled on this article: link from Yahoo.

It seems the United States is finally getting on board with the idea that anyone can be a victim of sexual abuse and violence and the original defintion of rape as "carnal knowledge of a woman forcibly and against her will" has been tossed on its outdated and woefully discriminatory ass.

And part of the new definition is this: The revised FBI definition says that rape is "the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object," without the consent of the victim. Also constituting rape under the new definition is "oral penetration by a sex organ of another person" without consent.

A step in the right direction, indeed. But, is it enough?
01/06/2012
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Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
I'll take any progress we can get
01/06/2012
Contributor: Stinkytofu10 Stinkytofu10
That's great progress for sure. I can't believe that was the original eight-decade old definition of rape, it's appalling to say the least.

I think it should be expanded to the penetration of any orifice (this includes ears and nostrils) with any body part or object.
01/06/2012
Contributor: Katelyn Katelyn
Wow, this is a big step. The old definition is ridiculous!
01/06/2012
Contributor: Ghost Ghost
My husband told me about this earlier and I was glad to hear it.
01/07/2012
Contributor: Cookie Monster Mike Cookie Monster Mike
good to see it updated! Progress is good. Unfortunately for some victims out there, this progress came too late. I could tell you what needs to happen to rapists, but it's not very nice.
01/07/2012
Contributor: Midway through Midway through
Any progress is better than no progress.
01/07/2012
Contributor: Chirple Chirple
Just reading the title, I was terrified this was going to end up being more bullshit regression from the legal system.

I'm glad it's good news, instead.
01/07/2012
Contributor: Rawhide Rawhide
Saw the headline "FBI recognizes that men can be raped" and thought it might be a joke. It's crazy that it took this long. But progress is progress. It's good that they included oral penetration as rape as well.
01/07/2012
Contributor: Cherrylane Cherrylane
That's a very big change from what it was.

The old UCR definition went on exclusively about the "carnal knowledge" of a female *rolls eyes*
01/07/2012
Contributor: MAy86 MAy86
We are moving farther along than we what was before, now they just need to make sentencing longer, I know friends who got busted with drugs who served longer than one guy who was charger with raping a girl I knew. I think that is bullshit!!!
01/16/2012
Contributor: namelesschaos namelesschaos
Like everyone else I'm glad they updated it. This also reminds me a professor who keep thinking he was objective but really had a very anti-feminist /women' studies view point. He keep complaining that new definition was the actually then definition of rape and how it was too broad, and he feared more for his son being false accused of rape then his daughter being raped. Wonder how he fells now that his whine about the definition is actually accurate *eye-roll*
01/17/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by namelesschaos
Like everyone else I'm glad they updated it. This also reminds me a professor who keep thinking he was objective but really had a very anti-feminist /women' studies view point. He keep complaining that new definition was the actually then ... more
Wow, that's pretty crappy.
01/17/2012
Contributor: geliebt geliebt
I also thought this was gonna be about some rape culture nastiness, but this is actually nice to see Any progress is good.
01/21/2012
Contributor: Jake'n'bake Jake'n'bake
GOOD. I'm glad to see they're getting with the program.
01/21/2012
Contributor: QSBybakd QSBybakd
Quote:
Originally posted by Stinkytofu10
That's great progress for sure. I can't believe that was the original eight-decade old definition of rape, it's appalling to say the least.

I think it should be expanded to the penetration of any orifice (this includes ears and ... more
I'm sorry, but I really can't seem to understand that last line. Sticking your finger up someone's non-consenting nose should be considered 'rape'? It could certainly be considered assault, but rape? I can only see this expanded definition proving to disparage what the charge of rape actually is. There would be a lot of 9 year old sex offenders raping each other on the playground if that were the case.

But anyway, this is amazing progress. I cannot believe it's taken until now for the law to acknowledge this.
01/29/2012
Contributor: te te
Nice to see that things are moving in a better direction!
01/31/2012
Contributor: Ahatmadeofshoes12 Ahatmadeofshoes12
Changing the definition was a good start but what we really need to do is to change the social attitudes on rape so that we can end rape culture and slut shaming.
02/07/2012
Contributor: QSBybakd QSBybakd
Quote:
Originally posted by Ahatmadeofshoes12
Changing the definition was a good start but what we really need to do is to change the social attitudes on rape so that we can end rape culture and slut shaming.
Agreed!
02/07/2012
Contributor: TheGreat TheGreat
Every step is a good one when it goes in the direction of justice. I do agree though that the only way to stop it is to adjust the view of rape culture.
03/23/2012
Contributor: Curiouscat Curiouscat
Sounds great, good they are looking over old outdated laws/definitions.
03/23/2012
Contributor: pootpootpoot pootpootpoot
This is amazing progress, though it is coming very late. One of my dear friends is a male rape victim, and he is ecstatic about this change!
03/26/2012