Redefining Rape

Caitlin Corsetti
Alpha Omicron Pi

It’s a sensitive subject, always has been and always will be. Rape. I don’t care who you are or where you’re from, that word is scary. I cringe when I hear someone say, “That test raped me.” It’s not something to be taken lightly. As a female, I’ve been taught to be aware of my surroundings and to not walk alone at night. I’ve been taught to point my keys out between my fingers when going to my car and to fill up my tank in well lit gas stations. Don’t take drinks from people you don’t know and don’t set your cup down.

We know these things, but you can follow all of the precautions and still get into a situation. You can be raped by someone that you know. You can be raped without experiencing violence. And women aren’t the only the only ones who can be raped.

According to the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, nearly 1 in 5 women have been raped in their lifetime, as well as 1 in 71 men. The statistics are staggering, especially because thousands of cases have gone unrecorded and unrecognized as rape due to the FBI’s definition.

The formal definition of rape by the FBI was set in 1929 as “the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will.” How vague is that? This definition leaves out thousands of people, including men. This definition leaves out those who were raped by means other than intercourse like oral, anal, or penetration by an object. It leaves out anyone who is unconscious, whether under the influence of alcohol and drugs or not, because under this definition someone who is unconscious can’t be forced. It has been considered a controversial definition for quite some time, and the government has finally reevaluated what defines rape.

On January 6, the FBI announced revisions to the Uniform Crime Report. Included in the report is the new definition of rape is “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." This definition changes everything. There are so many women and men that haven’t been taken seriously because of the way rape was defined. Women have been blamed for their rapes because there were no signs of “force” and men have been completely excluded from the FBI’s definition. Not anymore.

I hope that redefining rape will help us redefine the way we think about it. It’s sensitive and difficult to talk about, but we should talk. We should understand that no matter who you are or in what fashion, rape is rape. No victim should be blamed for their rape, and every victim should have the opportunity to file charges and see justice be done.

If you are a victim of rape, you can contact the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) hotline 24/7 at 1.800.656.HOPE(4673) or visit rainn.org for more information. Here on campus, you can reach the UA Counseling Center at (205) 348-3863 and the Women's Resource Center at (205) 348-5040. Don't be afraid to ask for help or to report your case.

Caitlin is a senior studying telecommunication & film and English. You may contact her at clcorsetti@gmail.com.