Definition of Rape: 7 Ways To Rethink How We Approach Sexual Assault

By Soraya Chemaly

Today the FBI updated it’s circa 1920 definition of rape. Until today, rape was still defined as “The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.” It was changed to one that makes no reference to gender and that will include male, mentally impaired and non-consensual victims. Even though this change is already reflected in the laws of many states, there will undoubtedly be in increase in the number of rapes recorded in the nation.

As it is, according to December’s CDC study and the Department of Justice, 20 percent of all women, 1 in 5 report experiencing rape or an attempted rape. That number is 1 in 71 for men. The Department of Justice estimates that 60 percent of rapes go unreported. Rape is in our air.

On any given day you can, if you chose, participate in an entertaining pop culture rape happening. Last week started with Salon’s Glenn Greenwalk making jokes about President Obama raping nuns and in December, #ItAintRapeIf, a fun Twitter hash tag was trending. You can find popular TV shows and moviesand lists of music with rapey lyrics to hyper-real, 3-D video games like RapeLay (which went viral last year), in which players help the hero rape a mother and her two daughters. Facebook still has its controversial rape pages. Rape talk, as in “that was just like being raped,” long indulged in by right-wing shock jocks is now regular slang. Not quite convinced? How about the “Who Would You Rape?” University of Vermont fraternity survey? And, of course, someone will fill a book with the shame of Penn State.

These examples are rape culture manifest: sexual violence — overwhelmingly against girls and women — tolerated, excused, ignored and normalized through attitudes, norms, practices and media. Childhood victims of abuse, boys included, are victims of rape culture, too.

As significant as the FBI decision is, it will not dismantle this culture. Instead, with an increase in the number of rapes and a broadening of the possible victims and perpetrators, there will probably be a net increase in rape myth conversations and media coverage. We ignore, debate, glamorize and debunk real rape instead of challenging the culture that makes it endemic. Consider the impact of NOT doing the following:

For more, visit The Huffington Post.