Sexual assault, according to the United States Department of Justice, is any form of sexual behavior that occurs without the clear consent of the recipient. Sexual assault can include, sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest fondling, and attempted rape (Sexual Assault, n.d.). Consent is defined as permission for something to happen, or an agreement to do something (“Consent,” n.d.). Consent plays a huge role in determining if a sexual behavior should be considered a sexual assault, is the key component. The concept of consent has been a complex issue in regards to sexual assault that occurs inside an intimate relationship, especially marriage. Marital rape is a complicated battle because of social attitudes on rape in
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The two categories of marital rape are; non-physical sexual coercion and threatened or forced sex (Martin, Taft, & Resick, 2007). Non-physical sexual coercion includes social coercion and interpersonal coercion. Social coercion uses the belief that the woman has the wifely duty or responsibility to satisfy her husband, even if she does not want to (Martin, Taft, & Resick, 2007). This is most common type of sexual coercion. An estimated 61% of married women reported experiencing social coercion from their husband (Martin, Taft, & Resick, 2007). Some women feel Interpersonal coercion is when a husband uses his resources or power in the relationship to coerce his wife into sex. A wife might feel like she owes her husband because he spent money on her or bought her something. Interpersonal coercion was reported by about 30% of married women surveyed (Martin, Taft, & Resick, 2007). The threatened force or forced sex category includes battering rape, force-only rape, and obsessive rape. Battering rape is the most common form of marital rape, and it is usually the extension to a physically abusive relationship (Martin, Taft, & Resick, 2007). Battering rape is sometimes referred to as anger rape, and it men use it as an act of aggression, vengeance and to embarrass their wives. Force-only rape is about power, it is also called power rape. A power rape is when the offender uses rape to assert their power, …show more content…
It is seen as a minor form of sexual violence that does not have the same effects as other rapes. However, the repercussions of rape are significant regardless of the victim’s relationship to the perpetrator. Marital rape can include physical injuries, such as bruises, broken bones, chronic genital pain, as well as unwanted pregnancies and STD’s (Boucher, Lemelin, & McNicoll, 2009). There is also evidence that supports a link between violence and abuse in a relationship and sexual aggression and marital rape (Boucher, Lemelin, & McNicoll, 2009). Perhaps the bigger impact of marital rape comes from the psychological injuries. Women who are victims of marital rape often experience low self-esteem, a negative self-image, a harder time reaching orgasm, and develop a fear of sexuality. Marital rape victims are also more likely to experience the same symptoms associated with other physical and psychological violence, such as depression, post-traumatic symptoms, anxiety, shame, and guilt (Boucher, Lemelin, & McNicoll, 2009). Victim’s lives are significantly impacted by sexual assault and the impact is not lessened because of societal views of what is expected of wives in a
The two categories of marital rape are; non-physical sexual coercion and threatened or forced sex (Martin, Taft, & Resick, 2007). Non-physical sexual coercion includes social coercion and interpersonal coercion. Social coercion uses the belief that the woman has the wifely duty or responsibility to satisfy her husband, even if she does not want to (Martin, Taft, & Resick, 2007). This is most common type of sexual coercion. An estimated 61% of married women reported experiencing social coercion from their husband (Martin, Taft, & Resick, 2007). Some women feel Interpersonal coercion is when a husband uses his resources or power in the relationship to coerce his wife into sex. A wife might feel like she owes her husband because he spent money on her or bought her something. Interpersonal coercion was reported by about 30% of married women surveyed (Martin, Taft, & Resick, 2007). The threatened force or forced sex category includes battering rape, force-only rape, and obsessive rape. Battering rape is the most common form of marital rape, and it is usually the extension to a physically abusive relationship (Martin, Taft, & Resick, 2007). Battering rape is sometimes referred to as anger rape, and it men use it as an act of aggression, vengeance and to embarrass their wives. Force-only rape is about power, it is also called power rape. A power rape is when the offender uses rape to assert their power, …show more content…
It is seen as a minor form of sexual violence that does not have the same effects as other rapes. However, the repercussions of rape are significant regardless of the victim’s relationship to the perpetrator. Marital rape can include physical injuries, such as bruises, broken bones, chronic genital pain, as well as unwanted pregnancies and STD’s (Boucher, Lemelin, & McNicoll, 2009). There is also evidence that supports a link between violence and abuse in a relationship and sexual aggression and marital rape (Boucher, Lemelin, & McNicoll, 2009). Perhaps the bigger impact of marital rape comes from the psychological injuries. Women who are victims of marital rape often experience low self-esteem, a negative self-image, a harder time reaching orgasm, and develop a fear of sexuality. Marital rape victims are also more likely to experience the same symptoms associated with other physical and psychological violence, such as depression, post-traumatic symptoms, anxiety, shame, and guilt (Boucher, Lemelin, & McNicoll, 2009). Victim’s lives are significantly impacted by sexual assault and the impact is not lessened because of societal views of what is expected of wives in a