Why is it always men?

[bobcat2424]

I think IABU, I hope so but it seems as though every single news story, every horrible brutality; wars, murders, rape, abuse... in the very large part of it seems to be caused by men. Am I wrong to think this?

I literally just posted the US definition of rape that no longer requires a penis. We have a weird definition here that's considered outdated in other countries because it diminishes the perceived impact on the victim - "oh, they weren't raped, it was only a bottle they were penetrated with."

@LadyTrunchbull I apologise-I didn't realise you were talking about the States. Personally, I think that we should keep rape as meaning non consensual penetration with a penis, and have another word-maybe stronger than sexual assault, for penetration with an object. Rape-the weaponising of a penis- is a unique crime, carrying with it the possibility of pregnancy, stds, specific psychological trauma that is different to penetration with an object. So I hope we keep the British legal definition here.

Tbf, I wasn't talking about the US all along. I mentioned that the definition there had changed.

I think it's tricky because 'rape' can still occur without 'forcible' penetration in the event that the victim is below the age of consent. A woman coercing an underage boy into having sex is no better than a man doing the reverse, but if we say that women can't rape then the same crime is sort of diminished when committed by a woman.

Coercion of an underage female into having sex is rape, but coercion of an underage male into having sex is then sexual assault. 'Rape' bears stronger connotations to most people.

If course it's not always men

I've just been reading the wedding seating plan, and although women don't kill each other they sure as hell can make organising a wedding difficult.

@Tigertigertigertiger "If course it's not always men"
What % of violent crime is committed by women?

Coercion of an underage female into having sex is rape, but coercion of an underage male into having sex is then sexual assault. 'Rape' bears stronger connotations to most people.

Two things.
One: Of course the crime of rape should have stronger connotations to "most people" because having a penis shoved inside you can lead to unwanted pregnancy, STD, being accused of infidelity by your husband, the continued trauma has no end.

Two: In practice the crime of sex assault in the UK usually ends up with the perpetrator receiving a heftier sentence compared to rape, with rape victims being typically dissatisfied with the sentencing outcome compared to victims of sex assault.

Sex assault is a serious crime. It is not "less than" or "more than" than rape. It's simply a different crime entirely with different consequences.