⚠️Marriage does not mean consent ⚠️
Trigger warning : this article discusses sexual assault, including marital rape, coercion, and abuse within intimate relationships. It includes real cases, survivor experiences, and descriptions of violence that may be distressing or triggering for some readers. Please take care of yourself while reading and step away if you need to. Support resources listed at the end of this article. Marriage Does Not Mean Consent There was a time in the United States when a woman could say no to her husband and the law would say yes for her instead. Not emotionally, not culturally, but legally. Let that sink in for just a moment before you continue to read. There was a time in this country where men could legally rape their wives, record it, and share it with the world, all against their wife’s consent or knowledge and receive NO legal repercussions. For centuries, American law followed a doctrine that treated marriage as permanent consent, meaning a husband could not be char...