Rape laws in the United States were originally enacted to protect ______.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rape laws in the United States were originally enacted with the understanding of women as property. This perspective was rooted in historical legal traditions where women, particularly married women, were legally considered the property or chattel of their husbands. Thus, the violation of a woman through rape was often treated as a crime against the property of a man (her father or husband), rather than as a violation of the woman's personal autonomy and bodily integrity.

Rape Laws in the United States Were Originally Enacted to Protect