Which statement best defines sexual assault or rape?

• A. A hug without permission
• B. Forcibly engaging in sexual intercourse with a person who has not consented
• C. Any kissing without consent
• D. Sexual activity with a minor

Answer: (B)

Rape and sexual assault occur when someone engages in sexual activity without the other person’s consent, typically through force, coercion, or when the person cannot freely consent. The statement that best defines this is the one that specifies forcibly engaging in sexual intercourse with a person who has not consented, because it directly captures both the lack of consent and the specific act that constitutes rape in most definitions.

Consent matters: it must be voluntary, informed, and ongoing. If a person is unable to consent (due to intoxication, unconsciousness, or coercion), any sexual act is not allowed. The other examples—unwanted hugging or kissing, or sexual activity with a minor—describe inappropriate or illegal behavior, but they don’t define rape in the usual sense for adults; they may be criminal in their own right, but the clearest definition of rape centers on non-consensual intercourse.