“What is 3rd Degree Rape?” is a question many men wonder about when they find themselves in a situation where they may be in the midst of a forced or non-forced sexual encounter with someone who they just don’t know very well or who may be acting strangely. The term “3rd Degree Rape” coined by feminist writer Jaclyn Spencer in her book, The Purity of Sexuality, described an act that occurs “when the victims participate willingly and enthusiastically in the sexual acts of their assailant.”
This definition sounds good – but it is in actuality much more problematic than that. For starters,” participates willingly” is not the same thing as “actively participate.” A man can be asleep when his partner forces him to perform oral sex on her; he can also be unconscious or otherwise unable to prevent himself from complying by any reasonable standard. Under these conditions, any claim to consent or responsibility for one’s own safety is nullified by the fact that the subject is either unable or unwilling to take an active part in the act. Under these circumstances, then, the question of what is 3rd degree rape becomes an impossible one.
The next question to ask is – “What are 3rd Degree Rape and how can it be prevented?” The answer lies in the fact that while the specific sexual act between the perpetrator and the victim may involve unwanted touching or a lack of understanding of what is actually occurring, a lack of consent is usually not involved in the totality of the situation. A passive partner may be pressured into performing a pose that she is entirely uncomfortable with and may not even be aware of consciously choosing to do so. Furthermore, some male participants in yoga classes are known to fall into the “follow-through” phase of the pose quite quickly, which can cause them to be unable to breathe deeply enough to control their breathing or to realize that they are in a catatonic state.
There are many situations where the student is not actively aware – that they are engaging in what is commonly known as “the dance of death”. For example, most people who perform the Asana Diya Vritti (Mountain Pose) find that their blood pressure shoots up into the high-risk range shortly after they begin. The challenge here is learning how to decelerate the pose enough to prevent an increase in high blood pressure. The same approach has been applied to the Asana Sarvangasana (Saddle Pose) by many students of Ashtanga Yoga. Unfortunately, it is hard to slow the pose down enough to bring it into a state in which it is in a position to help reduce high blood pressure.
In order to make sure that you avoid situations – in which you might be vulnerable to what is often described as “the dance of death”, there are a few simple things you can do to prepare yourself before entering any pose. First, it is important that you learn and be able to execute the basic footwork necessary to maintain your balance as you perform the Asana Diya Vritti. In addition, you should also have an understanding of the concepts that will allow you to control your breathing and focus your energy so that you can bring yourself into a state in which your blood pressure is properly balanced.
Fortunately, with advanced yoga training – you will be able to master these techniques and be in the best possible position to ensure that you can protect your physical and psychological health. It is important for you to know and understand what is 3rd degree rape because there is a possibility that you could be subjected to it during regular yoga practice. Asana is simply not the area of yoga where you are likely to come into contact with someone who is suffering from this condition.
However, if you are practising asanas without having an understanding of what is 3rd degree rape and how it relates to yoga, you could very well be putting yourself at risk of exposing yourself to unnecessary pain and suffering.
