What Is Rape?

Feb 25, 20233 min read

Updated: Aug 8, 2023

Written by Andrelyn Izquierdo.

Simplified descriptions of sexual assault in multiple ways and what it entails.

Image by Pexels from Pixabay.

Earlier in the year, I went over what situation references do not qualify as rape that are often mentioned in social, household, and professional settings. This time, I want to focus on what exactly is rape in the same format. There seems to be many definitions scattered throughout the internet as well as conversation. There's even inconsistencies within the law varying through the states on what qualifies as sexual assault. According to Wikipedia, rape is federally defined as the, "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." To victims, this can still sound very limiting, but there are many versions of penetration and what can be used to penetrate another person's sex organs.

I think it's necessary to get it all out there for everyone to see as rape is still ignored by many reporting agencies and taken lightly. Reports are either not offered due to pre-screening scenario "qualifications", not turned in at all in a manual process, or deleted with expedited time frames electronically when not easily solved in acquiring a suspect or moving onto the next step. These oppressive processes along with corrupted individuals working these systems to further suppress victims are also contributors to why defining rape can still include limitations.

Since I have encountered many different scenarios of sexual assault as a rape victim, I can add in more ways to describe what rape is. The list includes simplified synonyms and terms to help encourage more people to fill out reports and push through the oppressive systems used to discourage reporting. Reviewing this list will also broaden the understanding of how huge of a problem rape is and what is involved.

Rape is...

evil.
bad.
wrong.
a sin.
a guilt.
HATRED.
common.
mean.
nasty.
wicked.
cruel.
rough.
forceful.
malicious.
brutal.
OPPRESSIVE.
unpleasant.
sickening.
injurious.
shameful.
intimidation.
crushing.
agonizing.
premeditated.
unsympathetic.
tough.
ruthless.
entrapment.
ugly.
unprofessional.
vicious.
tragic.
bitter.
INVOLUNTARY.
a time waster.
rancorous.
compassionless.
unhealthy.
grievous.
torture.
a crisis.
INHUMANE.
coercion.
a hazard.
burdensome.
extreme bullying.
blasphemy.
aggressive.
rigorous.
controlling.
overwhelming.
violating.
causing another to suffer.
stealing another's body.
wrongdoing.
an immoral act.
nonconsensual.
overbearing.
discomforting.
a perversion.
exploitative.
jeopardizing.
restricting to victims.
dangerous.
domineering.
corruption.
defilement.
forbidden.
desecration.
an attack.
suffocating.
an intolerable act.
mishandling a body.
a limitation to victims.
an obsession.
excruciating pain.
an emergency.
done anywhere.
leads to negative feelings.
an offender's severe disease.
life threatening to victims.
often after kidnapping.
always the perpetrator's fault.
an act of disrespect.
misinterpreted by an assailant as love.
an extremely bad behavior.
fueled by lust.
sexual violence.
a manipulative practice.
hostile.
unsafe.
perilous.
searing.
a result of blackmail.
removing another's will.
a sex crime.
recorded in porn.
committed by all genders.
reducing a quality of life.
a taint on and inside the body.
begun by manipulation.
a type of abuse.
always bad.
joked about in social media.
showing degradation.
ignoring a victim's life.
often ignored by reporting agencies.
often a repeated offense.
damaging to the body.
sexual assault.
an offender's selfishness.
worldwide.
a serious problem.
mostly done to women.
part of domestic abuse.
a total body takeover.
a permanent stain in history.
attempted murder.
internal bleeding.
sex trafficking.
an act of slavery.
leading to fatal consequences.
often connected to murder.

People can now see the differences in comparison to be more aware by using this as a resource. Maybe it can even spark some conversations to better improve situations for victims as well as the behaviors of perpetrators.

Here are some reminders to take with you:

In the face of danger, choose #courage and #speakup even when it's inconvenient regardless of lacking in support as well.

Please #becareful and do try to #besafe.

#LearnTheSigns

#GetEducated

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