Acquaintance Rape

8 Pages 1992 Words

acilities. All these women wanted was go out and defend their country, instead their lives were made a living hell, as they were terrorized by their very own peers. I thought it was those kind of people we were fighting against.
As these well-publicized events indicate, an increased awareness of sexual coercion and acquaintance rape has been accompanied by important legal decisions and changes in the legal definitions of rape. Until recently, clear physical resistance was a requirement for a rape conviction in California. A 1990, which was in reality not that long ago, amendment now defines rape as sexual intercourse “ where it is accompanied against a persons will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury.” The important issues additions are “ menace” and “ duress,” as they include consideration of verbal threats and implied force. The definition of
“Consent” has been expanded to mean” positive cooperation in act or attitude pursuant to an exercise of free will. A person must act freely and voluntarily and have knowledge of the nature of act or transaction involved.” In addition, a prior or current relationship between the victim and the accused is not sufficient to imply consent.
The problem is society is still, despite the violent nature of acquaintance rape, victim- blaming. “Blaming the victim” seems to be an all too common reaction to acquaintance rape. Excuse me, I was taught no means no, weren’t you. So what’s the confusion about? Socio-cultural considerations are central to explanations of rape supportive attitudes and sexual assaul...