1. Men Define Rape: A History

Background: The main idea of this article is to illustrate a timeline of men defining rape, beginning in 1780 B.C. to present day. It transitions from the earliest definitions of rape, where rape was considered property damage, to present day, where men are still in control of the definition.

How I Intend to Use It: It has taken centuries for legislature to evolve the definition of rape. Through this article, I intend to focus on the numerous periods in time where men have consistently defined rape. This article includes several laws where rape was defined, and I will use the laws to show how legal systems, mostly controlled by men, define rape. Simply, this article will help me support the idea that men, for centuries, have defined rape and will continue to do so until women are included in the definition of rape.

2. Should the FBI Redefine Rape

Background: For 82 years, the FBI has functioned under the standard definition of rape as being, “The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Included are rapes by force and attempts or assaults to rape. Statutory offenses (no force used–victim under age of consent) are excluded.” The Feminist Majority Foundation sees this definition as outdated as it was “before the Great Depression, before Mickey Mouse, and before the Empire State Building.” Much of what it means to be raped is not included in the previous statement, therefore the F.M.F. is seeking the FBI Director and Attorney General to change it to definition appropriate to modern society.

How I Intend to Use It: Feminist supporters are making moves to change, as a whole, the government’s definition of rape. They are now taking control of what it really means to be raped.

3. The House GOP’s Plan to Redefine Rape

Background: For many years, federal laws have banned funding for abortions, including pregnancies that have resulted from rape or incest. Under a new bill, “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” funding for abortions would only be given to pregnancies resulting from forced rape, thereby ruling out funding for a vast number of abortions. Enacting this law would cause victims to prove they were forcibly raped instead of, for example, being coerced into having sex. Feminist groups, abortion-rights groups, and other government officials protest this idea, and believe rape does not always mean physical force against a woman.

How I Intend to Use It: Steph Sterling, a lawyer and senior advisor to the National Women’s Law center, said, “This bill takes us backwards to a time when just saying no wasn’t enough to qualify as rape.” Currently, the best definition of rape is sex without permission, meaning sex after one person says “no” constitutes rape. “Rape is only really rape if it involves force.” However, with a society, more complicated than ever, a more appropriate definition is needed. Many women would strongly disagree with the previous statement. This definition, however, must have female input in order to create a definition women feel is the true definition of rape.

4. Todd Akin, Paul Ryan, and Redefining Rape

Background: Representative Todd Akin defended his belief that victims of “legitimate rape” can’t get pregnant due to female “biological defenses” that prevent rape victims from getting pregnant. This essentially means a woman that became pregnant, must have welcomed the sex. Limiting rape to only “forcible” rape leaves many other type of rape out, denying rights of victims of other forms of rape.

How I Intend to Use It: Some government officials are blaming victims of rape for getting pregnant, intending to change in government in order to not pay for victims’ abortions. Abortions are a medical procedure, that surely isn’t inexpensive. By limiting the amount of abortions the government is paying for, decreases government spending. Money is power, and the government needs power. Male legislators are increasing their power by defining rape and whether that type of rape constitutes an abortion.

5. An Updated Definition of Rape

Background: The Attorney General announced, in 2012, a revised definition of rape, in hopes to more accurately report rapes nationwide. The new definition is “The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”

How I Intend to Use It: The Attorney General, another male legislator is exercising his power in defining rape.

6. Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault

Background: An organization, at the University of Hartford, consists of college males who are determined to make a difference on campus, by working toward preventing rape and sexual assault on campus. Their mission is to educate and to empower other men to work toward preventing male violence against women. Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault (M.A.R.S.) works actively with students to inform and to educate students all around campus.

How I Intend to Use It: Men are working toward preventing rape without discussing with women what it means to them to be sexual assaulted. They celebrate their work, unfortunately being blindsided to how excluding women affects the definition of rape.

7. Rape Culture

Background: This website focuses on rape culture, its effect on violence against women, and methods to prevent it. It defines rape culture as, “an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture.” Misogynistic language, objectification of women, and glamorization of sexual violence creates a society that  disregards women’s rights and safety. The website provides of examples of how rape culture is perpetuated and how it can be prevented.

How I Intend to Use It: This website allows me to provide how rape is possibly defined by women. It will allow me to compare a woman’s definition to a man’s definition of rape.

8. Rape has been ‘decriminalised’ for the most vulnerable says senior Met adviser

Background: Rape of vulnerable women, such as those with learning disabilities and mental health issues, has been “decriminalized,” according to Betsy Stanko, the Metropolitan Police Service’s assistant director of planning. Though after decades of reform, the percentage of prosecutions and convictions of rape of women with mental and learning disabilities has remained low. Two thirds of rape cases are dropped during police investigations, resulting in victims with mental health issues and learning disabilities having a very low solve rate.

How I Intend to Use It: The majority of police officers and police detectives are male, therefore with a predetermined notion of rape. There is a possibility that these officers and detectives don’t consider these cases as actual rape cases because of the type of victims. As a result, perpetrators walk without any consequences. This is another example of men defining rape and consequences that ensue.

9. A Comprehensive Approach: The Strength Campaign

Background: The Strength Campaign strives to “embraces men as vital allies with the will and character to make healthy choices and foster safe, equitable relationships.” The campaign works for rape prevention and seeks to end violence against women. One vital aspect of the My Strength Campaign are the advertisements that promote the campaign’s essential mission.

How I Intend to Use It: Each poster incorporates a couple and a slogan that portrays men’s evolving role in rape prevention. The slogan, primarily, expressed the idea that women are the ones in control of what occurs between them, but men are still the ones in control and deciding what is and isn’t rape, strengthening my thesis.

10. Causes of Rape

Background: The causes of rape involves the process of socialization within society. Several causes of rape are the result of the ways society influence men to use power, aggression, and physical force if necessary to get what they want. Many rapes are the result of the rapist seeking power.

How I Intend to Use It: Men have always sought power, and there are many ways men achieve it, and sometimes it is through rape. Men have defined rape throughout history to obtain power from women. Men have continued to define rape to keep this power.