Google's definition of Rape

ottawadeveloper · 2012-08-13T18:49:50+00:00

Let's track this down, to the source.

Google does not maintain content (not even definitions). This must be coming from another source. Their source is none of the links beneath it (all of which go to comparatively gender-neutral definitions).
Wikipedia points us to Oxford American College as the source of the definition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Dictionary).
A quick search of Oxford confirms the definition is identical (http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/american_english/rape?region=us&q=rape).

So the real problem here is that Oxford has a sexist definition of the term 'rape' in their dictionary (likely in all their printed versions as well, though I can't confirm). Merriam-Webster is just as bad (they define rape as unwanted sexual acts, commonly committed against women or underaged minors). Collins is not much better: "the offence of forcing a person, esp a woman, to submit to sexual intercourse against that person's will", though they both allow for men to be included. I would bet their print editions are just as bad.

Unfortunately, Oxford and MW don't have (that I can find) methods of protesting their definitions - they are chosen by lexicographers who analyze how the word is commonly used and then write the entries for it. I think there's enough usage of the word in relationship to men that it doesn't deserve such a strong emphasis on "especially women" in the dictionary, but perhaps they disagree with me.

What this underscores in my mind is that we need to make sure the concept of a man being raped by a woman is out there and commonly discussed. The definitions will catch up (unless somebody can find a channel to protest).

Thankfully, dictionary.com has a better definition:

the unlawful compelling of a person through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse.
any act of sexual intercourse that is forced upon a person.
statutory rape.
an act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse; despoliation; violation: the rape of the countryside.
Archaic . the act of seizing and carrying off by force.

Also, the American Heritage Medical Dictionary has the right idea:

"The crime of forcing another person to submit to sex acts, especially sexual intercourse. v. raped , rap·ing , rapes"

Big_Gay_Mike · 2012-08-13T17:27:59+00:00

that's genuinely not okay

XSShadow · 2012-08-13T17:45:32+00:00

Wow, that needs to be fixed.

ArchangelleDumpster · 2012-08-13T19:01:56+00:00

Good to know that what happened to me at the age of 11, wasn't rape according to Google.

What do you call a 24 year old, bar skank forcing a 11 years-old to go down on her and then forcing him to have intercourse with her? Yes, I know little boys shouldn't go alone to play pool at the bowling alley... I was asking for it.

DavidNatan · 2012-08-13T18:37:06+00:00

I chose the option - "I can search but something else is wrong" and wrote them a lengthy description of the insane level of sexism in that definition, and that while I understand that definitions are aggregated by a script, this has reached reddit.com and they'd better act on it in one way or another.

BlkVooDoo · 2012-08-13T17:01:05+00:00

Wow, do I have an issue with this.

EpicJ · 2012-08-13T18:35:17+00:00

I'm still waiting for UK to change it's definition of rape.

newSuperHuman · 2012-08-13T18:04:55+00:00

who makes google definitions, the oxygen channel?

VanillaSoul · 2012-08-13T19:03:43+00:00

..and we all know that Google is now God.

MrConventional · 2012-08-13T23:23:24+00:00

The following definition is used by the FBI.

Rape is: “The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”

Kutharos · 2012-08-13T18:44:21+00:00

Luckily, the Dictionary.com has some good gender neutral definitions.

jjruml · 2012-08-13T20:04:40+00:00

"The stalks and skins of grapes left after winemaking, used in making vinegar."

This is not OK.

LionDown · 2012-08-14T01:41:05+00:00

I subscribed MensRights quite a while ago and this one the first post and really offended me as a male. To have virtually all the knowledge in the world at it's disposal and have THAT as the definition of rape... It's absurd.

Windex007 · 2012-08-14T02:24:02+00:00

Protip:

Don't broach the subject from the MRA stance (At first). Submit the challenge "Many women experience the horror of being forced into sexual acts at the hands of other females prisoners while incarsarated. What is this called, if not rape?"

Once you establish that it is possible for a woman to rape a woman, the logic follows more fluidly to those resistant to the idea that a woman could then also rape a man.

T-rex_with_a_gun · 2012-08-13T18:29:13+00:00

Here's what i did:

Give us feedback >I have a suggestion or want to share positive feedback> tell google how shitty this definition is

CecilDL · 2012-08-13T23:46:29+00:00

It was my understanding that that is the correct definition of rape. At least in my jurisdiction, rape cannot be committed by a woman. When a woman does it, it's considered the less severe "Sexual Assault". This means it's impossible for a woman to rape her girlfriend in a lesbian relationship.

I really find that disturbing and it MUST change. Either make it for everyone or remove the term entirely. Rape is rape, no is no, regardless of gender. An erection is not a sign of consent.

someredditorguy · 2012-08-14T02:45:32+00:00

When it comes to the "Google's" part -

"The usage examples, images and web definitions on this page were selected automatically by a computer program. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Google Inc. or its employees."

MechPlasma · 2012-08-13T18:37:07+00:00

I've made a topic on the Google Product Forums about this, and asking who to talk to about it. Hopefully I can get an answer so that it can be fixed. https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/websearch/finding-stuff-on-google/q-EGzxMVkMk%5B1-25%5D

I'd also like to take this moment to highlight that quite a number of countries have this as official law: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_regarding_rape

Edit: Haha, I guess I'm not the only one who tried to take initiative in the last 10 minutes!

l_one · 2012-08-13T20:45:07+00:00

Google's probably just auto-quoting either a dictionary or a legal statute. I wouldn't personally blame Google when rape is still defined like that, at least in legal terms.

It strikes me as rather unequal too, a point I brought up in medic class when we went over the Special Considerations section. It's also why we're moving away from using the word 'rape' and are now instructed to use the term 'sexual assault' which has no gender-specific connotations.

2012-08-13T18:56:31+00:00

The real problem is deep and insidious: Feminists are widely believed to be an authority on such definitions.

Willy637 · 2012-08-13T23:59:37+00:00

I'm new to the idea of women raping people. Can I be informed, please?

rogersmith25 · 2012-08-13T18:37:38+00:00

Everyone remember the "she invented" Google scandal? Maybe this needs to be fixed like that?

rainwaterh · 2012-08-13T21:07:55+00:00

ya know, google, i'm gonna start using bing now.

who am i kidding, no i'm not.

Mansy · 2012-08-13T21:13:57+00:00

Dictionary.com got it right, though! http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rape?s=t&ld=1091

First link under the definition for me...

tboner6969 · 2012-08-13T21:17:55+00:00

not too familiar with this particular sub, but I saw this post, and I want to say this:

this isn't 'google's definition,' this is most likely the meaning as it is based in common law. most of you might be surprised to look up your own state's law on rape. i suspect the state law will read along similar lines.

most of you seem to be upset and alarmed that by this definition, a man could somehow not be a victim of 'rape.' however the semantics and naming convention might vary, a similar attack on a male would most likely be classified in a legal sense as a 'sexual assault' which carries the same protections and punishments under most state law.

MithrilKnight · 2012-08-13T22:21:47+00:00

Send feedback about it to the dictionaries that they are indexing for that definition!

MsMichelle · 2012-08-13T22:43:25+00:00

Well that's not right!

HalfGingGhost · 2012-08-13T22:44:33+00:00

Has anyone found a way to send a complaint to Oxford Dictionary?

MisterMaggot · 2012-08-14T02:53:13+00:00

Just a note, this isn't Google's fault. When you define something through Google it parses the top links for that term. It just so happens that the site it uses to parse said definition phrased it as such.

rffleming · 2012-08-14T02:54:53+00:00

http://imgur.com/gallery/ZZJPR

Proof that women can rape men. SFW

2012-08-14T03:39:30+00:00

OH COME ON EVERYONE surely everyone knows that women are too weak to rape anyone or anything and they don't even like sex that's why why we need to take it from them to stay sane and productive pillars of society.

sunshineshazam · 2012-08-14T01:34:51+00:00

that's some bullSHIT

amya691 · 2012-08-13T20:29:07+00:00

I'm so sick of all these feminists trying to make the definition so broad that basically everything is "rape."

Rape should have a very strict definition. Either:

Forced copulation
Copulation initiated when another person is passed out/incapacitated
Sex with prepubescent children

That's it. Just because something is immoral or ambiguous does not mean it's "rape." Find some new words to describe such actions, and leave "rape" out of it.

Bequickorbedead · 2012-08-13T17:05:20+00:00

[permanently deleted]

2012-08-13T20:22:14+00:00

Guys, I've said it before:

Dictionaries describe how words tend to be used on a large scale, through analysis of literature and other corpora. They're a pretty good source for an accurate definition of how a word is generally used. I disagree with those who seek to change dictionary definitions of words based on what they "ought" to mean.

If people typically use the word rape to mean the rape of a woman, then the lexicographers are just doing their job.

The only definitions MRAs should concern themselves with are legal definitions. Those are really the only ones that matter.

thedickthatisme · 2012-08-13T22:19:18+00:00

ok.. i actually feel like i did something good today! I contacted Google about this issue...

JethroSC · 2012-08-13T20:33:37+00:00

This is embarassing, thankfully the two other options, dictionaries.com and Wikipedia (ESPECIALLY Wikipedia) are great about it, keeping it completely clean.

cefarix · 2012-08-14T05:04:44+00:00

This has nothing to do with Google actually.

IbrahimT13 · 2012-08-14T07:49:25+00:00

To be fair, Google takes those definitions from notable dictionaries. Google might not even realize that this definition is this way.

roadhand · 2012-08-14T09:18:29+00:00

Thank you for the feedback links - sent.

2012-08-14T10:07:05+00:00

dictionary.com's definition is more accurate.

1.the unlawful compelling of a person through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse. 2.any act of sexual intercourse that is forced upon a person. 3.statutory rape. 4.an act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse; despoliation; violation: the rape of the countryside. 5.Archaic . the act of seizing and carrying off by force.

bashar_al_assad · 2012-08-14T13:46:17+00:00

That is also a terrible terrible terrible name for a plant.

Seriously who came up with that?

LFBR · 2012-08-16T03:02:30+00:00

How dare they call a type of cabbage rape.

Trekkie1701 · 2012-08-25T20:13:00+00:00

they still redirect you to the website for "refuge" all you have to do is look at Refuges website for a split second to see the misandry and bias.

NuclearPotatoes · 2012-09-08T17:26:33+00:00

What did it say?

Muaythai9 · 2012-10-09T04:08:32+00:00

I think the complaint to be made here is against governmental law, google did not create this definition in fact it is the definition in almost all state laws. The problem here isn't just google, it is legislation.

DrMuffinPHD · 2012-08-13T21:44:42+00:00

In a strictly legal sense, "rape" is frequently defined as being a crime committed solely by a man.

This isn't google's fault. The legal definition of rape is determined by a state's legislature. Although a number of states have now expanded the definition of rape to be more inclusive, there's still quite a few states that use the traditional definition.

So if you really want to change things, don't complain to google, check your state's definition of rape and, if necessary, write to your representatives telling them that you want change.

stoprapingpelase33 · 2012-08-14T00:10:23+00:00

Well if men would just stop raping so much you wouldn't be so offended by the statistical and Bayesian inference that rape is usually perpetrated by men.

PurpleVNeck · 2012-08-13T21:48:02+00:00

Expecting downvotes, but...

This is the Oxford definition, meaning it's British. Here is the definition of rape in England:

Rape

(1) A person (A) commits an offence if— (a) he intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis, (b) B does not consent to the penetration, and (c) A does not reasonably believe that B consents.

So you see, rape in British law requires penetration, which is why they make the assumption that the perpetrator is male. This by no means discounts that sexual assault occurs without penetration, and that a woman may sexually assault/abuse a man.

It's awful, I know, but it's semantics and a legality.

russelln · 2012-08-13T20:19:29+00:00

Does this have to be posted every day?

thesmeg · 2012-08-14T07:52:22+00:00

Am I the only one who cant get raped? I am a man and if I don't want sex, It WILL NOT happen! Or do your dicks stand up all day long?

The_Jacko · 2012-08-14T14:13:13+00:00

I've been on this subreddit for 10 minutes and I'm now very angry.

Willy637 · 2012-08-14T02:42:05+00:00

[permanently deleted]

Apollo7 · 2012-08-14T04:19:51+00:00

Are you kidding me right now, Google?

englad · 2012-08-13T21:21:48+00:00

There's nothing sexist here, that is the UK laws definition too.

ZorbaTHut · 2012-08-13T21:13:31+00:00

cry more faggots

High_Value_Target · 2012-08-13T19:38:07+00:00

Google's definition is blatantly wrong for the obvious reason but also considering that rape can also be committed by organisms other than humans. Examples include dolphins and dogs, bears...

hello_mellow · 2012-08-13T21:49:48+00:00

I guess y'all did it; the definition isn't there anymore.

sirzachary · 2012-08-13T19:16:46+00:00

Anyone wanna tell me how rape can be committed by a woman to a man? Seriously, if the man don't want it, he ain't gonna be hard. So unless she's using a strap on or something, how can anything she do be considered rape and not molestation?

ATLien325 · 2012-08-14T01:23:43+00:00

I mean honestly who here has ever been raped by a woman or knows someone personally who has? How is a woman supposed to physically force a man to fuck?

Title	Google's definition of Rape
Author	BlkVooDoo
Upvotes	808
Comments	216
Date	August 13, 2012 5:00 PM UTC (13 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/y5hiz/googles_definition_of_rape/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/googles-definition-of-rape.1015947 https://theredarchive.com/post/1015947

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