Posts should be 2-3 paragraphs TOTAL for all answers together. 1. What if the laws regarding sexual assault had never changed? How would this impact women today? Men? What would the negative impacts be? Would there be any positive impacts? 2. What if statutory rape required a lack of consent? How would prosecutions differ? What would the impact be on victims of this crime?
If the laws regarding sexual assault had never changed, it is likely that women would continue to be disproportionately affected by sexual assault and harassment, and that the societal stigma surrounding these issues would remain strong. This would likely lead to fewer women coming forward to report sexual assault, as they may fear being disbelieved or blamed for the crime. Men could also be affected by these laws, as they may be unfairly accused or punished for sexual assault.
There would likely be negative impacts on both women and men in this scenario. For women, the lack of legal protection and support could lead to increased instances of sexual assault and a lack of justice for victims. For men, the lack of clear definitions and laws could lead to false accusations and a lack of due process.
There are no positive impacts to be gained from a lack of progress in laws regarding sexual assault.
If statutory rape required a lack of consent, prosecutions for this crime would likely differ in several ways. First, the focus of the prosecution would shift from the age of the victim to the issue of consent. This would require the prosecution to prove that the victim did not consent to the sexual activity, rather than simply proving that the victim was under the age of consent.
The impact on victims of this crime would depend on the specific circumstances of each case. In some cases, requiring a lack of consent may make it easier for victims to come forward and seek justice, as they would not have to prove that they were unaware of the age difference between themselves and the perpetrator. In other cases, it may be more difficult for victims to prove that they did not consent, particularly if the perpetrator was in a position of power or trust.
