Language of Sexual Violence - More than a Matter of Semantics (From Violence Against Women - A Critique of the Sociobiology of Rape, P 115-127, 1985, Suzanne R Sunday and Ethel Tobach, eds. - See NCJ-99563)

• NCJ Number: 99568
• Author(s): J Blackman
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Gordian Press, Inc.
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

After challenging the use of the word 'rape' to apply to apparently forced copulation in nonhuman animal species, this chapter discusses the importance of reserving the word 'rape' to apply to an act of sexual violence that has serious physical and psychological consequences for the victim that require extensive treatment.

Abstract

In a 1983 paper, Thiessen depicts rape as 'reproductive strategy' and 'our evolutionary legacy,' based upon his analysis of presumed forced copulation in nonhuman species. This redefinition of rape has the effect of depriving the act in human experience of all the negative connotations with which it has been imbued. The word should be reserved for behavior deemed criminal that severely traumatizes its victims. Rape thus becomes classified as an experience requiring psychological treatment similar to that offered to survivors of other traumatic life events: (1) crisis intervention counseling, (2) followup individual care, and (3) followup group care. Twenty-six references are listed.