For many years, rape has been described in survey reports using different perspectives. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, released in 2015 by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, is the latest summary report about rape victimization that provides a clear description of this kind of crime. The findings from this survey report conformed to what I believed earlier because it describes rape as an action done through physical force (Smith et al., 2018). This is said to be demonstrated through violence, being held, or pinned down. This essay explores my perspective about rape and how it relates to the discussions provided in the 2015 sexual violence survey report.
My earlier belief about rape was that it involved a forcible anal, oral, or vaginal penetration similar to the definition provided in the summary report. However, this information is not entirely right, according to the textbook, because some cases do not involve the exertion of physical force (Alvarez & Bachman, 2019). For instance, when an underage girl is asked for sexual favors by someone who helped her and she subsequently agrees, it will be considered a rape.
The person, in this case, will not have to use force but rather manipulation or blackmailing. Giving consent towards a sexual contact does not imply that it will not be considered an abuse. As much as the report supports my view, it further contradicts it by explaining that rape is a forceful penetration without consent (Smith et al., 2018). I believe consent must not apply in this case because it changes the whole meaning.
To sum up, most of the report’s findings conform to my earlier beliefs, including the one described above. Nevertheless, some claims are quite different from my earlier opinion about rape. Therefore, it is evident that this type of crime is an issue that still needs further research and modification of its definition to fit all the aspects surrounding it. It should also be described in terms of the age of the victim involved.
References
Alvarez, A., & Bachman, R. D. (2019). Violence: The enduring problem. Sage Publications.
Smith, S. G., Zhang, X., Basile, K. C., Merrick, M. T., Wang, J., Kresnow, M. J., & Chen, J. (2018). The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2015 data brief–updated release. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.