In the 1970s, most U.S. states legally exempted husbands from being charged with raping their wives because the law was rooted in centuries old doctrine that marriage implied permanent consent. All 50 states have eliminated marital rape exemptions. Spousal rape is now recognized as a crime. The change is largely credited to efforts put forth by second-wave feminism, domestic violence activism, and growing recognition that rape is about power and control, not marriage status. Nebraska was the fir