Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxe.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!ihuxe!rainbow From: rainbow@ihuxe.UUCP Newsgroups: net.women Subject: RE:rape and violence Message-ID: <859@ihuxe.UUCP> Date: Fri, 21-Sep-84 13:13:28 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxe.859 Posted: Fri Sep 21 13:13:28 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 25-Sep-84 21:25:40 EDT Sender: rainbow@ihuxe.UUCP Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 42 >Whether or not a weapon is involved is unimportant in the classification >of this crime as one of violence. A weapon is not necessary to physically abuse someone. Hence the definite threat of the possibilty of violence should make the punishment for rape appropriately more severe. However, the threat of violence does not in itself make it a crime of violence. This holds true for all crimes. >Many women who fight a rapist are killed because the rapist becomes >enraged that he is not in complete control of the woman's body and emotions. That is why it is best not to risk resistance. Once again true in all cases. If you are a bank teller and someone hands you note to put money in a bag and it appears he his holding an object in his pocket, I suggest you don't resist. Why risk turning the robbery into a crime of violence also? So why try and make things worse by risking violence in addition to the rape? >He is gratified by her fear of him and THAT is the main reason people >rape. The act of sexual abuse, whether penetration or some other >method, is used for its emotional affect on the victim. If cutting a >woman's hair were the most fear-provoking attack imaginable, a rapist >would be content to cut hair. Here also, emotional impact upon the victim is not justification for classifying a crime as violence. All sorts of crimes can have severe emotional effects. Kidnapping for instance. >Unless this rapist is kind enough to carry and use K-Y Jelly >at all times, a great amount of physical pain and damage can and is >inflicted. Well, I certainly am not a women, so I cannot answer for the amount of physical pain and damage involved. All I can go on is the vast number of rape cases written up in the paper of which the victim does everything but mention pain and/or damage endured. But I will give you this point and it is the main reason I said there is a very narrow line between rape and violence. Robert