To take it a bit further, some of the older British Isle ballads took to rape as a step up on the socially mobil ladder. The 'Shearing's Not For You' "do you mind on younder hill, where you swore you would me kill, if you did not get your will", manys the maid who had been tricked or worst & the best outcome was marriage to the man, life was not easy for woman or child & I believe some of these songs where of a warning type. As to gang rape, I don't think I've ever come across it in traditional folk, hopefully it wasn't an issue. Kenny R's song deals with the hero/coward as one who's less than the rest because he's not a fighter & only becomes a man on the back of a gang rape victim, the victim, Becky, is only there for Tommy (sounds like the movies), & the rape for her goes unresolved, no so for the Gatlin Bros, who may be seen as fit for killing, rape or no (convienent for Tommy).
BSeed, I couldn't agree more with you on the present state of country music, it's a far cry from it's origins & in my opinion far less likable for it. Barry