On average, there are 321,500 victims of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States. Although it is usually known that women are victims of rape, men are victims as well. There are thousands of victims of rape every year, men and women, but many victims never report the abusers.
You should never allow a perpetrator to get away with rape. The team of sexual abuse attorneys is here to help any victim of rape speak to an attorney in a confidential call, file a claim, report the abuse, and seek justice.
Rape is often known as “sexual assault” or “sexual abuse,” principally in the law. Nonetheless, sexual assault and sexual abuse are defined more broadly, whereas the term rape specifies intercourse.
Although sexual abuse and sexual assault can be broadly defined in what the term rape is specifically about in intercourse.
Rape is an act of non-consensual, forced sexual penetration. This includes any completed or attempted unwanted vaginal, oral, or anal penetration through physical force (such as being held or pinned down) or threats to physical harm.
Rape means that it happens when a person is not capable of giving consent to the activity. A person can be harmed by physical, mental, emotional circumstances, including the influence of drugs or alcohol. A person’s status, such as their age, role, or relationship to the perpetrator, may also make the victim unable to give consent.
Consent is the approval or agreement given without force or coercion. The meaning of consent is to consciously agree to be sexual with someone. By giving consent, you are letting the person know that you want to have sex with them. Participating in any sexual activity without consent will always be considered sexual assault or rape.
The crime is still rape, even if the victim was raped only under duress or was raped by force. Anyone can be charged with committing a rape crime or any other specific type of rape, such as gang rape, date rape, prison rape, marital rape, or statutory rape.
Rape can involve vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, oral sex, or penetration with any object or body part. Any degree of penetration is sufficient to designate rape, and ejaculation is not required.
Rape doesn’t happen in any one single way. There doesn’t need to be a weapon entangled, and the victim doesn’t need to have fought back, screamed, or said “no” for it to count as rape. Most times, it does not happen by strangers in dark alleyways. But, instead, by someone the victim knows or even a romantic partner.
No matter what the circumstance of the crime is, rape is not motivated by sexual desire. Perpetrators commit rape to dominate, exert power over, and hurt victims. It is never the survivor’s fault.
It is essential to learn that either gender can be the perpetrator or the victim of rape. Additionally, both heterosexual and homosexual rapes take place both inside and outside of relationships. Anyone can be a victim of rape – no matter their gender, sexual orientation, or age.
Unfortunately, certain groups of people are more likely than others to experience rape in their lives. Women (especially women of color), LGBTQ+ identified people, and people with developmental disabilities are more likely to experience rape throughout their lifetimes.
Call Ovadia Law Group at 1-800-674-9396
Some victims of rape speculate about their specific circumstance and if it constitutes as rape. Chances are, if you’re doubting, “was I raped?” you probably were.
Consent is one of the main elements of the crime of rape. Rape happens any time sexual intercourse takes place without your consent.
Chances can indicate your lack of consent, including:
Legally rape is committed even when a minor under the age of consent willingly engages in a sexual act with an adult because a minor is unable to legally consent.
An intellectually disabled person is legally incapable of consenting to sex.
A person who has ingested drugs, alcohol, or is passed out is legally incapable of consenting to sex.
Certainly, any time you say “no” to intercourse, and it is forced upon you, that is rape. Even if you first consented to the sexual act, you may withdraw consent at any time. It doesn’t matter if you said “no” in the middle of the act; it is still rape if the other party doesn’t immediately stop and respect your desire. You have the right to rescind consent at any time, under any chances.
Furthermore, there must be consent to every sexual act. Just because you have consented in the past, doesn’t mean you cannot withdraw this consent to future actions.
Sometimes it is considered rape even if you do not say “no,” such as in the case where a weapon is used.
It is still considered rape even if:
It is critical to remember that rape can happen to anyone in many situations, but it is never the victim’s fault – it is always the fault of the rapist.
We do not want you to feel as if you must remain silent about your abuse because you are “trapped.” Our sexual abuse attorneys want to help you gain justice for the severe and illegal behavior that has caused you to become a victim of sexual abuse. You have options to bring about change and seek justice for your damages.
Date rape drugs (drugs used by some individuals to serene a victim in order to have intercourse) are odorless and tasteless. They are generally mixed with alcohol and can render a person unable to prevent sexual assault. Date rape drugs can also cause a person to fall unconscious.
Nonetheless, just because the individual did nothing to stop the sexual act does not mean that they consented. Sexual penetration with a person who is unconscious or asleep is always deemed rape, as there is no way for the person to consent to the act.
Many victims question if they can be the victim of rape if the perpetrator is someone that they are/have been in an intimate relationship with. Like any other human, you have the right to make decisions without threat, manipulation, or coercion.
Consent is defined as: The voluntary agreement of the victim to engage in sexual activity.
Sexual consent is an agreement to participate in a sexual activity. Before being sexual with someone, you need to know if they want to be sexual with you too.
Sexual consent is always clearly communicated – there should be no question or mystery.
Silence is not consent. Consent is not just important the first time you have sex with someone. Couples who have had sex before or even who have been together for a long time also need to consent before sex.
There is no consent when:
It is critical to remember that sexual assault can happen to anyone in many situations, but it is never the victim’s fault – it is always the abuser’s fault.
You should never feel like you must remain silent about your abuse because you are “trapped.” Our sexual abuse attorneys at Ovadia Law Group are here to help you gain justice for the severe and illegal behavior that has caused you to become a victim of rape. You have options available to you to bring about change and seek justice for your damages. Please contact us at 1-800-674-9396
You are not alone. Our dedicated and professional team of sexual abuse attorneys is here to listen to your story and to help guide you in the right direction to move forward with your life.
If you or a loved one is a victim of rape or sexual abuse, call Ovadia Law Group at 1-800-674-9396 for a discreet and confidential consultation with one of our sexual abuse attorneys.
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