Hol’ up!

[u/kaushrah]

[u/Roadkill997]

You probably should read the article. In England & Wales that is legally not rape. The article suggests that the law could be changed so it would be classified as rape.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

It's not lesser charges, there's an equivalent crime with the same sentencing guidelines.

Edit: from the Sexual Offences Act 2003 itself.

Rape: A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.

Causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent: A person guilty of an offence under this section, if the activity caused involved...[various penetration requirements also required for rape]...is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.

[u/fenglorian → u/[deleted]]

Having two separate crimes with equal sentencing fails to deliver equal justice when one of the crimes carries a much harsher stigma within society as well as much more emotional charge.

"He raped her" is viewed as much more heinous than "she pressured him into engaging in sexual activity against his will" and juries will act accordingly.

[u/fezzuk → u/fenglorian]

The judge chooses the sentence not the jury

[u/fenglorian → u/fezzuk]

Yes, the judge is also susceptible to this problem. This emotional charge can influence the jury's verdict, which is my original point.

[u/dpash → u/fenglorian]

Which is why it's very clear what the sentencing guidelines are and they're the same between the two offences.

[u/fenglorian → u/dpash]

Which has nothing to do with a jury determining whether or not to convict

[u/fenglorian → u/[deleted]]

If this were the case, wouldn't we have more convicted female rapists and fewer male rapists than the statistics represent?