On Friday the U.S. Department of Justice scrapped their outdated definition of rape in favour of one that recognizes both men and women can be victims, and rape is not limited to forced vaginal sex.

The new definition of rape is, “the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without consent of the victim.” The previous definition created by the FBI’s Uniform Report was made in 1927 and stated rape as “The carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will.”

So what does this change really mean? Well it means that physical resistance is not necessary to show the victim did not give consent. This means if consent is not given because of “temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity,” which includes being intoxicated or underage, it can still be rape. Read More »

Most sexual assaults on college campuses are reported in September. The Department of Justice estimates that at least one in five women will be the victim of rape or attempted rape while she’s in college. Women between the ages of 16 and 24 are four times more likely to be raped than any other demographic of women. To say that this is frustrating and infuriating would be an understatement. The reasons for rape are numerous – between institutionalized patriarchy and general objectification of women to individual needs to assert power, combined with the fact that prosecution of rape is notoriously difficult equals a recipe for sexual violence against women.

In typical discussions of rape, there is a lot of emphasis on”prevention”, and the responsibility always seems to land on women. Rape is a unique crime in that it tends to inspire victim-blaming. If someone is mugged, for example, very rarely do people come out of the woodwork to say they were asking for it, that they could have prevented it, that because of their lack of character, they deserved it. When a woman is raped, it is because she was doing something to invite it. She shouldn’t have been [wearing a skirt/drinking/flirting]. Read More »

I like to think of myself as a pretty easy going gal, and try not to sweat the small stuff. But sometimes (ok, maybe slightly more often) the general cluelessness, carelessness and overall stupididty of some things and or/people really gets to me. I find that venting is the most efficient way to rid myself of the stress that idiots, wrong meal orders, lack of cell phone ettiquette and cheese flavored products (that don’t even contain any freaking cheese!) induce.

So, in an attempt to avoid an ulcer or an unfortuante road rage incident I vent to you, dear reader. Please feel free to join in and comment about anything–really, anything–that pissed. you. off. this week. Did your roommate leave dirty dishes all over your kitchen? Did your 8 am professor ‘forget’ to tell you class was cancelled? Did some girl on her cell with bad high-lights and tacky bumper stickers that say “angel” and other clever things cut you off today? Let it all hang out. I feel you. Read More »