Marital Rape and Its Impact on Women Research ProjectMarital rape is a term rarely used in the legal system and even less often in our society in general. In fact, I suspect that most people didn't even realize that such an act was real or that this crime actually existed, let alone understand the seriousness of this act. Unfortunately, I quickly learned that this violent crime is commonly committed, but rarely reported, and is a major problem that negatively affects and hurts women today. The key to understanding the impact of marital rape on women is to recognize what marital rape actually is. For many people, it is a foreign concept that they do not fully understand because it is something we rarely discuss. It is also helpful to define the act of rape before discussing marital rape, as this can help in understanding the act. According to Babalola Abegunde, author of the article "Re-Examination of Rape and Its Growing Jurisprudence under International Law" published in the Journal of Politics and Law, the word rape "comes from the Latin verb 'rapere,' which means 'to seize.' or take by force” (quoted in Abegunde). Similarly, the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines rape as "unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out by force or under threat of injury against the will, usually of a woman or with a person who has not not reached a certain age or who is incapable of validly consenting.” ("grated"). In short, rape is a forcible sexual assault against an unwilling participant. Similarly, Abegunde defines marital rape, or spousal rape as it is sometimes called, as “non-consensual sexual intercourse in which the perpetrator is the spouse of the victim” (Abegunde). Additionally, the National Rape, Abuse and Incest Network states that......in the middle of the document...and even if that is the case, there are certain times and cases in which a man should not be punished for the crime. In fact, even though there are laws regarding marital rape today, the situation still exists and has long-term negative effects on women, including physical injury, depression, intense fear, isolation and post-traumatic stress disorder. Unfortunately, marital rape is another way in which some men attempt to gain or maintain control and power over women, as well as humiliate and oppress women. As a result, marital rape is just one of the many ways women are objectified, dominated and abused in our society today and the cycle will continue unless we take big steps to change the situation. Women must report abuse when it occurs, regardless of the circumstances, and the legal system must recognize marital rape as rape without exception..