After countless petition efforts, the FBI may finally acknowledge that rape isn’t just something that happens to upper-middle class, white virgins.

The current definition of rape is:

“The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will“

The upcoming vote would eliminate the word “forcibly” from the Uniform Crime Report. While this new definition of rape certainly isn’t perfect, it’s a HUGE step forward for a country that still has states which don’t acknowledge spousal rape (I’m looking at you, Georgia).

It is expected that this small change to the official definition of rape will increase rates of reporting and prosecution of predators. This will help eliminate the  belief that if a woman didn’t fight back, she wanted it.

This new approach to rape will also help open up cases against:

-Date rape
-Rape under the influence
-Intimate partner rape.

If this first step can be achieved, hopefully it won’t take another 82  years to get the definition that activists have really been pressing for:

“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 the consent of the victim.”

This more inclusive view would acknowledge that rape can happen between men and women, women and women, and men and men and allows that having a vagina isn’t the only way to get violated.

Over the last few years, the United States government has launched a campaign attacking women’s rights, but hopefully this moment will mark the end of a truly shameful era in our history.

What are your thoughts on the FBI’s new definition?

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