What word in the English dictionary has a more shocking definition and an even more shocking affect? Rape is a sexual crime that violates the rights of all individuals who endure it, however women make up the majority of the reported rape assaults in the United States. Rape is an act that plagues the earth and is in desperate need of elimination. Unfortunately, the elimination of this horrible sexual violation and the impact it has on women is nearly impossible. The physical and psychological effects of rape are devastating to women who endure it, and the recovery process is a long and difficult one.
The word rape has a dictionary definition and as well as a legal definition. As printed in the English dictionary, rape is defined as forced sexual intercourse. The legal definition refers to rape as forced sexual intercourse including situations where the victim is unable to give consent due to numerous factors including disability, age and/or intoxication. .
The term sexual assault is different from rape. The English dictionary refers to sexual assault as any type of sexual activity, including rape, and attempted rape, that an individual does not agree to. This includes touching, penetration, sodomy (forced anal intercourse), oral copulation (forced oral-genital contact), rape by a foreign object and or sexual intercourse. The legal definition of rape refers to other forms of sexual harassment, including verbal, visual, audio, or any other form which may force an individual to participate in unwanted sexual contact or attention.
The contact between the rapist and the victim, can cause many physical affects. Prior to the rape incident, the rapist may use violent tactics, including physical abuse. This however is not present in all rape occurrences. After the rape incident, the victim may express signs of Rape Trauma Syndrome. RTS is a disease which is a form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and is accompanied by two phases.