We've had conversations about this in my journalism classes during the kobe bryant rape trial and the whole duke fiasco. While no one ever talked about banning the word rape because in trial they often just say non consensual sex.

But using the word "victim" is something that we've been talking about because when the word is used it assumes that the crime has happened and casts the light sometimes in favor of that victim. I guess in hindsight in the duke case we'd all agree not to let her be called a "victim" but during the whole process and looked what happened, those boys will live with that stigma their whole life.

I'm not saying ban the word, I'm not sticking up for rape criminals but I'm saying perhaps we should reconsider how it's used and in what context and the effects that come from it.