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FBI Finally Includes Men in Definition of Rape

Until now, only rapes of women have been counted

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 6, 2012 7:36 AM CST

(Newser) – The FBI is at long last changing its definition of rape to include males, after years of pressure from advocacy groups. For the past 85 years, the bureau has defined rape as "carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will," a definition that would exclude, for example, several things Jerry Sandusky is accused of doing, USA Today points out. From now on, rape will be defined as any kind of non-consensual penetration, regardless of gender.

Before the move, rapes against men were still being prosecuted, but they weren't being counted in the FBI's annual crime report, which advocacy groups complained "misled" the public about the scope of the problem. Joe Biden hailed the change in a statement yesterday as "a victory for women and men across the country whose suffering has gone unaccounted for over 80 years."

This Nov. 5, 2011 file photo shows former  Penn State football defensive coordinator Gerald Jerry Sandusky, center, arrives in handcuffs at a judge's office.
This Nov. 5, 2011 file photo shows former Penn State football defensive coordinator Gerald "Jerry" Sandusky, center, arrives in handcuffs at a judge's office.   (AP Photo/The Patriot-News, Andy Colwell,File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
Cinnamon
Jan 6, 2012 12:28 PM CST
Sexism hurts everyone. The reason this took so long was their reluctance to see men as victims. Men can't be victims. It's not manly.
tallgirl206
Jan 6, 2012 12:05 PM CST
This is important on so many levels, finally advocacy groups can seek federal funding, predators come in all forms, so do victims.
JoeQ
Jan 6, 2012 11:57 AM CST
Sexism is the worst when it's built right in to people in a way they forever refuse to question. Next step:  making young women register for selective service, or alternatively not making young men register for selective service.
 

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