[Discuss] Could you remove the rape option?

[Thomas Dalton]

> Bringing up the issue of "they deserved it" or "they're a whore" only
> reinforces the false myth that is rape is "ok" and the woman's fault.

The "it's the woman's fault" idea is fairly modern. Under medieval
law, rape is a crime against the woman's husband, not the woman. If
the woman's husband has been killed first (which was often the case),
there is no victim - the woman doesn't count. It doesn't matter who's
fault it is, there's barely been any crime committed. Raping an
unmarried woman was probably illegal, but I don't think it was usually
enforced - in fact, I think it was common for the woman to be forced
to marry the rapist (assuming he hung around long enough), especially
if she became pregnant.

(DISCLAIMER: I'm not an expert on medieval rape, it's possible my
sources are unreliable, and I may be thinking about the completely
wrong part of history. If anyone has more reliable information, please
correct any mistakes I've made.)