Rape is a controversial issue because of people’s explanations and definitions are different than the law. In addition, I think that from generation to generation the attitudes toward rape are different. For example, there are generations that may exclude marital rape in their definitions of rape but in younger generations this may be included in their definitions.

No matter what generation that rape is being discussed in I think the one thing that all can agree on is that it is a persistent problem.

A very general definition of rape is a forced or nonconsensual sexual act. The legal definitions may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction defining sexual act and who is covered and what is considered force or lack of consent.

Rape is most commonly thought of as a forcible rape but that is just one type of sexual assault. Rape can include any type of unwanted physical contact with a sexual organ and can include aggressive sexually suggestive statements. It is the force used and the harm suffered that will make a difference to if a crime is charged.

Date rape is defined as forcible sexual contact during a voluntary social engagement in which a person does not intend to engage in sexual activities and resists the contact.

Statutory rape is dependent on the ages of the participants. Even if consent is given, the law says that people under the age of consent are legally unable to consent meaning that the effect is that same as if no consent had been given.

The act of rape or sexual assault can happen to men, women, and children. The perpetrator can be a stranger, someone the victim knows, such as a mother, father, brother, sister, other family member, or a friend or acquaintance of the victim. When the victim is a minor and the violator is closely related this is considered incest.

Rape and incest is a trauma and it takes years to recover from this trauma and the road to recovery is torturous. No matter what form of sexual assault we are talking about no one consciously chooses to be violated by a stranger or a person that they know. It is an act that is done out of fear.

A victim of sexual abuse is made to feel guilty by the perpetrator The shame, the guilt, the self blame, the feeling of being dirty, the one to blame, the one who deserved this to happen results in a downward spiraling and can be an all consuming powerlessness. A powerlessness which if silenced does not let the truth be said and healing won’t begin until these feelings can be addressed.

No matter what form or type of rape, in addition to the emotional consequences of rape, pregnancy is a consequence. Although the statistics are probably low, it is something to consider and prepare your self for during your adoption search. Maybe many natural mothers who relinquished to adoption that conceived in rape may be understandably reluctant to talk about it. The circumstances could vary but it doesn’t really matter what they are but the reality of it is that it can be terrifying and isolating to face and you may feel as if you don’t deserve to be here.