Why a New Definition of Rape is Important

Since 1929, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, which records all of the crimes reported to local law enforcement officials every year, has defined rape as “The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.” In 2010, the UCR reported that there were 84,767 sexual assaults in the United States. But the real number is likely to be higher, and not just because a shocking number of sexual assaults are never reported at all – but because the current definition of rape excludes a large number of sexual assaults that don’t fit within the narrow boundaries of those eleven words.

There are numerous sexual assault cases that involve oral or anal penetration; that involve the use of objects; and that involve assault against men, to name just a few of the categories of sexual assault that the current definition does not take into account. The use of the word “forcibly” can also be interpreted as to only include assaults where it is clear that the victim resisted in some manner, and therefore could exclude attacks on victims that were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or those that are physically or mentally handicapped.

Tomorrow the FBI will consider whether to update this dangerously restrictive definition. For more information, please check out this petition at Change.org.