Rape And Rape Trauma Syndrome A dictionary would commonly define rape as a sexual act committed by force especially on a woman (The American Heritage College Dictionary 1997, pg. 740). Until a few years ago it was limited to penal penetration of the vagina. Penal Code 261 defines rape as "an act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a person not the spouse of the perpetrator without the lawful consent."(Roberson, 1998, p. 188) and Penal Code 263 further states "The fundamental …showed first 75 words of 2299 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2299 total…are still many silent sufferers and survivors. Rape is a horrible defilement more of a person’s emotional and psychological facets rather than just the physical. A person victimized by rape will never be the same again but that does not mean that they are any less of a person than they were before. Depending on their analysis, perception and treatment with a certified counselor, they can hopefully come away with newfound strengths and insights.