These women were the first to recognize how many women, children and men were being assaulted. They went to city councils, county government, state legislatures, and the federal government to find anyone who seemed to care and want to do something about the epidemic of rape. They put pressure on the men in these governmental bodies and fought for years to get better laws. The laws in all states are much better now as a result of their efforts. We all owe these women a great debt of gratitude.
Consent is what separates sex from sexual assault.
Consent means cooperation in act or attitude pursuant to an exercise of free will and with knowledge of the nature of the act. Submission under the influence of fear shall not constitute consent. Even if we can get away with it, even if the victim has not identified it as sexual assault, even if she or he did not experience it as sexual assault, consent was not established and its absence makes sexual assault a definite possibility. The key is whether the freedom to choose is always present, whether choosing to change one's mind or to stop at any point. Having this choice represents our mutual right to feel safe and marks the absence of sexual assault.