Dictionary definition from the OED: “The unlawful compelling of a person through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse.”
The important part is the legal definition, however, because rape as a crime is a felony, with penalties including prison time, we can’t just toss the term around casually. It’s like redefining murder. You want a crime to be very strictly defined, to protect both accused and accuser.
You are advancing a very scary definition of rape here. How is consent to be proven in a court of law? We have to remember that rape is a felony crime that carries a prison sentence and potentially a lifetime sexual-offender label. We cannot throw that term around lightly. Use all sort of terms to villify “gray-area” situations, but please be careful with that word!
Because nonverbal cues are a reality. Did you read his post? All the signals had been for yes, and then she regretted it. Women have to be clear that they are signaling, even if they aren’t verbalizing.
Huge disagree. Rape is a felony crime punishable by prison time. You cannot change the definition of a criminal offense like that. It trivializes the experience of those subjected to real rape, which is a violent crime. This was an incident of miscommunication, maybe coercion. Repugnant, bad behavior on his part; a learning experience for her. But it was not a crime.
Dictionary definition from the OED: “The unlawful compelling of a person through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse.”
The important part is the legal definition, however, because rape as a crime is a felony, with penalties including prison time, we can’t just toss the term around casually. It’s like redefining murder. You want a crime to be very strictly defined, to protect both accused and accuser.
You are advancing a very scary definition of rape here. How is consent to be proven in a court of law? We have to remember that rape is a felony crime that carries a prison sentence and potentially a lifetime sexual-offender label. We cannot throw that term around lightly. Use all sort of terms to villify “gray-area” situations, but please be careful with that word!
Because nonverbal cues are a reality. Did you read his post? All the signals had been for yes, and then she regretted it. Women have to be clear that they are signaling, even if they aren’t verbalizing.
Huge disagree. Rape is a felony crime punishable by prison time. You cannot change the definition of a criminal offense like that. It trivializes the experience of those subjected to real rape, which is a violent crime. This was an incident of miscommunication, maybe coercion. Repugnant, bad behavior on his part; a learning experience for her. But it was not a crime.