: In Brief: Marital Rape
Title:      In Brief: Marital Rape
Authors:      National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
ISBN-10(13):      ODVN
Language:      English
Rating:      0 
Picture:      no-img_eng.gif
Description:     

 

Approximately 10-14% of married women are raped by their husbands in the United States. Historically, most rape statutes read that rape was forced sexual intercourse with a woman not your wife, thus
granting husbands a license to rape.  On July 5, 1993, marital rape became a crime in all 50 states, under
at least one section of the sexual offense codes. In 17 states and the District of Columbia, there are no
exemptions from rape prosecution granted to husbands. However, in 33 states, there are still some
exemptions given to husbands from rape prosecution. When his wife is most vulnerable (e.g., she is
mentally or physically impaired, unconscious, asleep, etc.) and is unable to consent, a husband is exempt from prosecution in many of these 33 states (Bergen, 1996; Russell, 1990).
Hand Out excertp: Approximately 10-14% of married women are raped by their husbands in the United States. Historically, most rape statutes read that rape was forced sexual intercourse with a woman not your wife, thusgranting husbands a license to rape.  On July 5, 1993, marital rape became a crime in all 50 states, underat least one section of the sexual offense codes. In 17 states and the District of Columbia, there are noexemptions from rape prosecution granted to husbands. However, in 33 states, there are still someexemptions given to husbands from rape prosecution. When his wife is most vulnerable (e.g., she ismentally or physically impaired, unconscious, asleep, etc.) and is unable to consent, a husband is exempt from prosecution in many of these 33 states (Bergen, 1996; Russell, 1990).