Megan West(erby)

FBI to expand definition of rape

Trigger warning: discussion of rape and the definition thereof.

For the past 82 years, the Federal Bureau of Investigation — in its reporting of national crime statistics — has not recognized that men can be raped, that women can be raped by other women, that men and women can be raped with objects or that men and women can be raped while they are unconscious. Moreover, the FBI has not recognized all rape, only “forcible rape.”

But after protest from women’s groups this year, the FBI this week announced it would expand its definition of rape in its Uniform Crime Reports (UCR).

The new definition of rape — no longer “forcible” — resembles that of sexual assault, defining the crime as “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.”

The old “forcible rape” definition read simply: “the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will.” This previous definition included the note: “Attempts or assaults to commit rape by force or threat of force are also included; however, statutory rape(without force) and other sex offenses are excluded.”

The FBI has said it will continue to collect data on “forcible rape,” but only for research and comparison.

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Stuff like this makes me want to start a blog about how some days social progress wins. Each day bears its reminders that the world is unfair, unequal, and uncaring — but this day I am reading about the designative change to a socially stigmatized concept at an institution where said not-so-small change will make a world of difference.

(via headphonesnotrequired)

20 October 2011 ·