Defining Rape I: Definitions

Proper definitions need to avoid being too narrow or too broad. A definition that is too narrow excludes relevant cases, while one that is too broad includes inappropriate cases. A firewall analogy captures the goal: allow what should be permitted and keep attacks out. For “rape,” common understanding often focuses on “classic” rape involving force, threat, or coercion. Another category is “date” rape, which can involve intoxication rather than overt violence. Many survivors of sexual assault do not label the experience as rape, and some do not report it because they do not think it is serious enough. Some people later reclassify incidents as rape after changing their assessment.

"A basic lesson of philosophy is that terms need to be properly defined. Oversimplifying a bit, a good definition needs to avoid being too narrow and too broad. A definition that is too narrow leaves out things that the term should include. One that is too broad allows in too much. A handy analogy for this is the firewall that your computer should have: if it is doing its job properly, it lets in what should be allowed while keeping attacks out."

"While people have a general understanding of the meaning of "rape", the usual view covers what my colleague Jean Kazez calls "classic" rape -an attack that involves force, threat or coercion. As she notes, another sort of rape is "date" rape-a form of assault that, on college campuses, often involves intoxication rather than overt violence."

"According to Cathy Young, "three quarters of the female students who were classified as victims of sexual assault by incapacitation did not believe they had been raped; even when only incidents involving penetration were counted, nearly two-thirds did not call it rape. Two-thirds did not report the incident to the authorities because they didn't think it was serious enough.""

Read at A Philosopher's Blog