Shocking Facts About Marital Rape

Despite the prevalence of marital rape, this form of domestic violence has received relatively little attention from society over the years.  Nonetheless, rape is rape — it doesn’t matter if the perpetrator and victim exchanged holy vows or have children together.  Simply put, it’s about time the very real, very severe issue of rape within marriage be exposed for the sex crime it is.  Here, we highlight 15 shocking facts about marital rape that you need to know.

What were you most surprised to learn about? Share your thoughts below.

What is marital rape? Marital rape, or spousal rape, is the term used to describe non-consensual sex in which the perpetrator is the victim’s spouse. It is a form of partner rape, domestic violence and sexual abuse.

There’s an overall lack of research. It wasn’t until the 1970s — during the second-wave feminist movement — that society began to acknowledge rape in marriage could actually occur, according to the National Online Research Center on Violence Against Women. For this reason, the best information on marital rape to date has come from interviews with women about their experiences, as well as Diane E. H. Russell’s book “Rape in Marriage.

How common is marital rape? Researchers estimate that 10 to 14 percent of married or formerly married women have experienced at least one forced sexual assault by a husband or ex, according to the National Online Research Center on Violence Against Women.

Marital rape and the legal community. In 1993, marital rape finally became a crime in all 50 states, under at least one section of the sexual offense codes.

The existence of spousal exemptions. In 30 states, there are still some exemptions given to husbands from rape prosecution. A husband is exempt when he does not have to use force because his wife is vulnerable (e.g., she is mental or physically impaired, asleep, etc.) and is legally unable to consent. Because of the marital contract, a wife’s consent is assumed.

What legal rights do women having regarding marital rape? Married women may sue their husbands in civil court for pain and suffering, as well as medical costs.

The overwhelming amount of victims who never notify law enforcement about their situation. Only 16 percent of rape victims ever notify law enforcement about the incident, according to HeathResearchFunding.org. Women with little sexual experience and/or knowledge are more inclined to believe forced sex in a marriage is normal and do not report it as a crime.

The assumption that marital rape is “less harmful” than stranger rape. As society only recently legally recognized marital rape as a crime, it comes as no surprise that opinion polls show people view marital rape as a lesser crime than other types. As a result, this perpetuates rape within a marriage by conveying the message that such acts of violence are less reprehensible than other types.

Difference between victims of marital rape and other rape victims. According to the Wellesley Centers for Women, research indicates that spousal rape victims are more likely to be raped multiple times compared with stranger and acquaintance rape victims. In research with spousal rape victims, at least one-third of the women reported being raped more than 20 times over the course of their relationship.

Social characteristics of spousal rape survivors. According to the National Online Research Center on Violence Against Women, marital rape is not restricted to women of any specific age, race, ethnicity, social class or geographic location. While research has found that women are raped by their husbands at a variety of ages, almost two-thirds of wives are first raped by their husbands when they’re under the age of 25.

Debunking the myth that spousal rape stems from wives withholding sex.Most women who report being raped by their husbands also report having consensual sexual intercourse. According to the Wellesley Centers for Women, most husband-rapists assaulted their wives to reinforce their power, express anger or control.

Domestic violence and marital rape. When domestic violence is part of a marriage, the likelihood of spousal rape occurring increases by a whopping 70 percent. Men who strike their wives are more likely to abuse them in other ways as well.

Marital rape and religion. Many religious doctrines highlight sexual acts as a “duty” for wives. Because of this, women from certain religious backgrounds are more likely to accept marital rape because they fear being labeled a “sinner."

When children are involved. According to HeathResearchFunding.org, 18 percent of victims say that their children have witnessed a sexual assault. This just underscores what a devastating crime spousal rape is.

Long-term effects of marital rape. For this specific kind of trauma, the long-term effects can be incredibly severe. These can include anxiety, shock, intense fear, depression, insomnia and post-traumtic stress disorder, according to the Huffington Post.