Has it already been 16 years since Lorena Bobbitt cut off her husband’s penis? On June 23, 1993 John Wayne Bobbitt had come home to his apartment in Manassas, Virginia after a night out partying and drinking. When he came home it was said that he had raped his wife, Lorena Bobbitt. After he allegedly raped her (which he was tried and acquitted for spousal rape in 1994), she went to the kitchen to get some water and saw a knife. She snapped after several years of physical and mental abuse as well as the alleged rape that just happened, she took the knife, went back into the room where John had been sleeping (and intoxicated) and cut off his penis. She then left the house, drove around with the knife and the penis and then threw the penis in a field. She realized the severity of her actions and quickly called 911 telling them what she had done. Police found the penis in the field, put it on ice and rushed it to the hospital with John. Nine hours of surgery later, Dr. David Berman had re-attached John’s penis.
After going to trial in 1994, Lorena was found “not guilty” due to insanity causing an irresistible impulse to sexually wound her husband. Under state law, Lorena could not be held liable for her actions, but she was sentenced to undergo a 45-day evaluation at a mental hospital, to which she could be released after the 45 days were up. Soon after the trail, the two had filed for divorce and were divorced in 1995, after six years of marriage.
This case has sparked a huge riot with women groups and feminists all over the country. They would rally around Lorena stating that the continuous abuse from her husband forced her to defend herself, although in an unusual and violent manner. This case also sparked tons of jokes, t-shirt slogans and even an urban legend that Lorena died in a car accident, “some prick cut her off”. Rappers also used Lorena Bobbitt in several of their songs, including one that appeared on the 8 Mile soundtrack.
Some thoughts: When can someone actually accuse their spouse of rape, it sounds odd because once you are in a committed relationship or marriage, sex is pretty much an obvious thing, yet it still does need to be consensual by both. Did Lorena go too far when she cut off her husband, John’s penis or was that a cry for help that was needed? I mean, it was sewn back on, although I am not sure how useful it was after the surgery. How many people out there feel the same as Lorena, but are afraid to come forward or are just living with the abuse, embarrassed to accuse their partner of spousal rape? I would assume that a marriage would have to be over anyway if one partner feels that they are being raped by the other, when sex is no longer mutual or consensual in a marriage.