[user104658]

Originally Posted by Z

It's so messed up though, there's such a gulf of difference between someone slightly underage willingly having sex with an adult and it all coming out and the adult getting prosecuted over it and a violent sex crime where someone is abused against their will and left with physical and emotional scars.

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Well there has to be a line drawn somewhere I guess and it does have a different term to rape - Statutory rape. It should be case by case though, I mean there's a world of difference between say a 15 year old having sex with their 18 year old boyfriend/girlfriend and a 15 year old, like this one having sex with a 40 something year old who really should know better etc

I can see both sides here really. On one hand, it clearly is a crime and an underage person (under 16 anyway, as it is in the UK) I genuinely don't think can be considered capable of consenting to sex with a much older adult, so I don't think "willingness" comes into it.

However, I personally think that the severity of "full blown" rape with physical force or drugging involved means that it should have its own, completely distinct, term. "Rape" should be a powerful word as soon as you hear it, you shouldn't have to ask "Well hold on, what SORT of rape?". So yeah I think there is a good case for "statutory rape" being given another title. It doesn't mean lessening the severity of the crime or any punishments; just creating a bigger distinction... to reflect the violence of a forceful rape.