The Legitimacy of Rape

I’m not so young or unaware that people often say really stupid things. I’ve been known to say stupid things to and I’m sure everyone knows someone who speaks without thinking or just says the daftest things. But picture this, you know you are a public figure; you might even be running for a prominent political or religious position, then where the hell is the thought process that filters the crap that comes out of your mouth. Really if you are looking to be in a position of influence or high public visibility there definitely needs to be a very distinct brain to mouth control. I know I shouldn’t be but I’m really bothered by the latest crap I’m hearing being discussed about legitimate rape. I’m sorry but there is no such thing as an illegitimate rape, a fucking rape, is still a fucking rape. 

Picture this: you’re in a club or bar or wherever you go to hook up with or meet people. Let’s assume for this scenario you are both the legal age for consensual sex and alcohol. You see someone that you’re interested in and they seem to be interested in you too. Unsurprisingly you both lean in kiss, have a few more drinks than you ought to and before you know it you’ve gone home together. The question is how much of that decision has been influenced by alcohol or any other intoxicating substance, and would you have done this sober? 

Scenario 1: After having had sex, do you turn to face the other person with guilt/remorse/disgust? Whatever the emotion, regretting the actions that lead you here let’s say you turn away, hoping the other person will have left by the time morning dawns. Come morning you wake to find the other person having sex with you again. You protest, try to pull away, but your forced back down, and told to enjoy it like you did the night before. Afraid, yet regretful you lie back to await your fate. 

Scenario 2: Once you get home, you go to the bathroom to freshen up, and you’re a smart person, so while you are splashing water on your face you think about the consequences of your actions. Do you have any idea who his person is, do they have a STD, a criminal record, or maybe you’ve just changed your mind, might be the person you see in the light of day looks and feels different from the person in the darkness of the club a few hours ago. You tell the person you’ve changed your mind, and to leave. Instead the person ignores your words and continues nonetheless for the task you both come here for. Maybe the person is too drunk or sexual to understand what it is they are doing to you. Maybe the person doesn’t care. 

Scenario 3: You are married. You’ve had an awful day at work, and you just want to go to bed and pretend this day never happened. Before you’ve fallen asleep your partner comes from home, and initiates sex, you say no, that you’re not in the mood. Your partner doesn’t care, they want to have sex and as the lawful partner you are required to give it up. Your partner forces themselves onto you and you give in as you don’t have the will or energy to fight today, the day has drained you completely. You oblige unwilling or willing, it’s irrelevant, truth is you didn’t want this, not today. 

In my world, and realistically (it should be in everyone else’s world too), all three scenarios lead to rape. The issue of legitimacy really doesn’t come into it. Legal partner, or random stranger, rape is rape. No should mean no, whatever the circumstance. And people should be able to say no, and know that the no should carry weight. 

The great tragedy about human interaction is there always depth to people, misunderstandings, miscommunications, regrets, and people changing their minds. I read someone’s article the other day and she made the most horrific statement, and whilst it is horrific it is hard to deny how truth it was. “There are also going to always be people who are capable of and will carry out sexual assault or rape”. And it’s those people who should be prosecuted to the fullest and hardest extend of the law. So yeah, when someone who doesn’t understand how consensual sex or rape works, it does make me mad. Really, really mad. I never have, and probably never will suffer fools gladly.

Anyways final thought - maybe it’s important to remember or understand that if someone is intoxicated, they are NOT CAPABLE of consenting in any circumstances. If someone you are sexually active with is intoxicated, let me make it clear you are taking advantage of them. 

OK.. vent over.