Recently a few post have mentioned that "forced kissing" is a form of "sexual assault."
This is an issue of semantics; is a particular item a member of a set constructed by humans to help categorize reality. The membership in such artificial sets is somewhat arbitrary and shifts over time.
Categories such as "weapons of mass destruction" can be used to misinform rather than inform. The first thing that comes to many people's mind is an H-bomb.
Unfortunately, some people seem to be using the broad category of "sexual assault" to obfuscate rather than clarify. The first thing that comes to many people's mind is rape.
Even more troubling is that the category of "forced kissing" seems ill-defined.
Let us explore some examples below.
For example, a young man and women go out on their first date. The young man walks the young woman home. (I assume such things still do occur on occasion.) As they say goodnight at her door, the young man thinks that the date went well and is wondering whether he should kiss her goodnight.
This can be a very socially ambiguous situation. (If you can not imagine a similar socially ambiguous situation, this diary is not intended for you.) Does she want me to kiss her goodnight? Does she expect me to kiss her goodnight? What will she think if I don't try to kiss her goodnight?
He could ask her, he could just say goodnight, or he could try to kiss her. Each of these choices has potential upsides and downsides.
Assume he gives her a quick peck on the cheek, the type of kiss one might give to ones mother. Is this forced kissing?
Assume he gives her a quick kiss on the lips. Is this forced kissing? Does your answer depend on how she feels about it?
Assume he tries to kiss her, but she pushes him away before he can. Perhaps he misread the social signals or perhaps he's a jerk. Is this attempted forced kissing? Is attempted forced kissing also a form of sexual assault.
Finally if while he is wondering what to do, she impulsively kisses him? Has she committed sexual assault?