What act is characterized as sexual intercourse against someone's will under California law?

The correct characterization of sexual intercourse against someone's will under California law is defined as rape. Rape, as per California Penal Code Section 261, specifically addresses the situation where a person engages in sexual intercourse with another person without that person's consent. Consent must be affirmative, conscious, and voluntary; therefore, any sexual act initiated without consent qualifies as rape. The law emphasizes the lack of consent, and this is crucial for establishing the crime of rape.

In contrast, the other options pertain to different sexual acts or offenses. Oral copulation and sodomy, while they can also involve lack of consent and may be prosecuted under different statutes for similar reasons, are distinct crimes and do not specifically refer to traditional sexual intercourse. Pimping refers to the act of profiting from the prostitution of another person and does not involve the act of sexual intercourse itself. Each of these terms denotes separate legal definitions and implications within California law.