"Rape is an outrage that cannot be tolerated in a civilized society." ~ Camille Paglia

Does that statement, by implication, mean that other forms of assault are not an outrage?

In my view, rape and other forms of sexual assault mustn't be viewed in a fundamentally different manner than other assaults. ALL assaults are a violation of an individual's physical and emotional well-being. For example, an unwanted slap on a woman's behind is a sexual assault. Is that a worse offence than slapping a man on the face? Which hurts more? Which is more demeaning?

Women are often victims of sexual assault. Feminists have drawn attention to that problem by claiming that it's a particularly pernicious form of assault. In doing so they've taken attention away from physical assault, which men experience at far higher rates than women.

The problem won't be fixed one gender at a time. No form of assault against anyone is acceptable, and all forms of assault must be condemned equally.