Rape

775 Words2 Pages

Rape

Webster's New World Dictionary defines rape as "the crime of having sexual intercourse with a person forcibly and without consent". Rape is a problem in modern society because it remains a commonly practiced crime. Despite the severe consequences and the fact that it is morally and ethically wrong, the number of cases are growing.

It is assumed that rape has been around since the beginning of time. The

only thing that has changed is how society views the crime. For instance, in

ancient times the laws of society were written and enforced only by men. This led

to unfair laws that did little discourage men from raping women.

Being raped is a traumatic experience for the victim. Psychological damage on the victim varies depending on the age, sex, religion, and culture of the victim. The only guarantee is that the effects of rape on a victim are never positive. Rape is known to lead to psychological and emotional problems that often keep the victim living in fear and unable to maintain trustful relationships with others. Victims often begin to withdraw themselves from others and often develop low self-esteem and decreased self worth.

One aspect of rape that remains a mystery is why people feel the need rape others. Rapists are the scariest of criminals in the sense that they can appear to be normal, mentally stable individuals. Rapists come from every race, social class, and level of education. Researcher's studying rape group rapists in to profiles to try to understand why people rape. I her essay "The Psychology of Rape", Mackenzie Jackson theorizes that "Some do it to confirm their manliness, some do it to feel powerful, and others do it because they hate women as a whole". This statement summarizes ...

... middle of paper ...

...e who is passed-out, extremely inebriated, asleep, a child, or mentally-incapacitated."

There is no excuse for rape. Whatever the reason or circumstance, forcing oneself sexually on another person is wrong. Hopefully, the problem of rape will begin to decline as people begin to understand what leads to rape and how it can be avoided.

Bibliography:

Jackson, Mackenzie. "The Psychology Of Rape." Rape Poem. No Date Posted.

No Organization Listed. 28 May 2001 .

M, Jack. "Confession of a Date Rapist." Sexual Assault. 9 Sep. 1998. TCLEOSE.

28 May 2001 .

"Rape". Webster's New World Dictionary. 1990 ed.

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher In The Rye. New York: Little, Brown, & Co., 1991

Weinberg, Joseph. "History: From Rape To Sexual Assault." Teaching Sexual

Ethics. 1994. Joseph Weinberg And Associates. 28 May 2001 .

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