, not powerlessness.After a study done in Michigan to evaluate the new reform statute, it was found that there was some improvement in conviction rates, but overall that, the law has very little impact on the systems approach to sexual assault cases.(Estrich 88) The reform did not cause more women to report rape. Classic violent rape continued to be treated more seriously than simple rape, and simple rape was not usually prosecuted. The only real improvement was the, decline in the importance attached to the victims prior sexual history.(Estrich 88) However, although inadmissible as evidence, defense attorneys continued to investigate a womans past in order to discredit her testimony in court.Washington State also passed innovative legislation similar to that of Michigan. But Washington also, provides a third degree offense where the victim did not consent to sexual intercourse and such lack of consent was clearly expressed by the victims words or conduct.(Estrich 89) This law could be read to allow the woman to merely verbalize her nonconsent, but it has not been used in that way. The provisions in the first two degrees of rape require that physical force or threatened bodily injury be employed. Therefore, the definition of the first two degrees preempt the content of rape 3 and render its prosecution difficult.(Estrich 89) Cases of uncorroborated simple rape are still likely to be dismissed. The only benefit of the third degree was that perpetrators of it were more likely to be convicted of rape than assault. Therefore, those convicted were labeled rapists, which carries a greater stigmatism.Estrich proposes that, changing the words of statutes is not nearly so important as changing the way we understand them.(Estrich 91) She repeatedly suggests that the mans blameworthiness be investigated, rather than that of the woman. The also indicates that laws that allow men to be victims of rape are important symbolically because...
