Argument on Rape

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Rape is seen as a societal issue not only in Australia but worldwide. Rape not only effects women and young girls but also men within society. Rape can be defined both legally and through a dictionary definition. Legal and dictionary definitions both have similarities and differences when it comes to defining rape in society. The issue of rape can also be seen as a social issue within all societies not just Australia. Social issues prove the extent and the nature of a problem such as rape, who the victims and perpetrators are and also the age groups in which rape mainly effects. Rape can best be described using a feminist perspective. Feminist theory first must be defined to understand how it works. Then it must be associated with the issue of rape. Feminist theory in this circumstance explains how the breakdown of a patriarchal society can cause or inflict rape in the family home and society (Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, 2009; Bssent & Watts, 2007). Overall rape is not just seen as a private family issue but a societal and worldwide issue. Rape can be defined in many ways, although the two main ways of defining rape is by using a dictionary definition or a legal definition. A dictionary refers to rape as being a ‘crime mainly committed by a male, of forcing another person to have sexual intercourse with them without consent’ (Simpson &Weiner, 2005). The legal definition of rape can be found under section 349 of the criminal Code Act. Section 349 of the criminal code defines rape as being ‘a maximum penalty of life in prison if someone commits rape and is immediately guilty of committing a legal offence’ (Criminal Code Act., 1899). If a person rapes another person if – a) The person has knowledge with or of the other person and has no consent from the other person. b) The person penetrates the vulva, vagina, or anus of the other person to

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