Legal Definitions - spousal rape

SPOUSAL RAPE

Spousal rape is when a husband forces his wife to have sexual intercourse without her consent. It used to be legal for a husband to do this, but now it is a crime in most places.

• A husband forces his wife to have sex with him even though she says no.
• A husband threatens his wife with violence if she doesn't have sex with him.

These examples illustrate how spousal rape is a form of sexual assault that can happen within a marriage. It is important to understand that just because two people are married, it does not give one person the right to force the other person to have sex.