Firstly, it is important to discuss the physical and psychological implications involved with rape. For the victim, it can be a nightmare to suffer hopelessly when someone is having forcible sex with her ‘body’ against her will. Apart from physical assault, it may sometimes take a lifetime to recover from consequent psychological trauma.
The condition worsens in the absence of any contraception, as it may result in the victim getting pregnant. This issue is a little complex with different interpretations as per the perceptions of people from various cultures. In some cultures, it is strongly objected to having pregnancy without a socially acceptable partner. So, as rape breaches this principle and can make a woman pregnant in an unacceptable way, it is highly condemned. Keeping it aside, in view of the consequences for the victim, forcing a woman towards a possible undesirable pregnancy should be condemned.
In the case of failed contraception, it is important to know whether the woman had sex with her interest or not. When she is willingly engaged in intercourse, it becomes her own responsibility to take necessary contraceptive measures. On the other hand, even though a person may be aware of the consequences of her deeds like long walks in midnights, it should not mean that she is ready for sex. Here, the lack of security for a specific gender should be considered more than her act. Leaving aside the abortion regulations in individual countries, the chance of abortion should be given when pregnancy results from rape.
Furthermore, sex has been considered as an enjoyable holy act of creating offspring and to be done between partners. Though this concept doesn’t fit well in the current world and to this topic, it has been the main reason behind strong, sometimes controversial, opinions on rape in every culture. However, this concept has both positive and negative aspects. According to a more civilized and strongly acceptable opinion, even sex with a legal partner is called rape when it is done forcefully. In this sense, importance goes to the protection of a person’s interests and rights.
It does implicate that, irrespective of the cultural interpretations about rape, forceful sex is by no means acceptable as it damages the self-respect and integrity of a person with resultant physical and psychological pain. Also, it may not always be possible to talk about rape based on cultural values only. For, there have been inevitable conflicts between standard cultures and individual lifestyles almost all over the world. One must consider culture in a broader aspect in view of the contemporary world, without just sticking to outdated values.
The issue of moral values somehow resolves this conflict as it considers only those values of the culture that guarantee rights and respect for individuals, irrespective of gender. On moral grounds, any damage to self-integrity should be condemned. However, morality may sometimes complicate the issue, as there are many involved obligations while talking about sex, like morally acceptable relations and societal impacts, among others.
Hence, it needs common sense gained as a cumulative result of culture and moral values. The involved woman’s interest in that act is more important than culture and moral values to decide whether it is rape or not. It should be better understood that a person should not be forced into sex without her interest, whatever the reason is. It is acceptable to blame a woman for her controversial deeds, but her acts shouldn’t be held responsible to avoid charges of rape.