NCJ Number
28914
Date Published
1975
Length
472 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT THE THREAT, USE AND CULTURAL ACCEPTANCE OF SEXUAL FORCE IS A PERVASIVE PROCESS OF INTIMIDATION THAT AFFECTS ALL WOMEN WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE BEEN ACTUAL VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE.
Abstract
THIS BOOK PRESENTS A HISTORICAL EXAMINATION OF THE USE OF RAPE IN WAR, FROM BIBLICAL TIMES TO BANGLADESH AND VIETNAM AND EXPLORES THE ORIGINS OF AMERICAN RAPE LAWS, EXPLAINS HOW, WHY, AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES RAPE FIRST CAME TO BE CONSIDERED A CRIME. THE AUTHOR ALSO DEMONSTRATES HOW MEDIEVAL RAPE CODES, WRITTEN IN AN AGE WHEN WOMEN HAD FEW LEGAL RIGHTS, CONTINUE TO CONFUSE MODERN PERSPECTIVES. OTHER MAJOR TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE INTERRACIAL RAPE FROM SLAVERY ONWARDS, HOMOSEXUAL RAPE IN PRISONS, AND THE SEXUAL MOLESTATION OF CHILDREN. IN ADDITION, FREUDIAN PSYCHOLOGY, DEFENSE-LAWYER STRATEGY, AND THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE IN POPULAR BOOKS, MOVIES, AND MAGAZINES ARE STUDIED IN AN ANALYSIS OF THE MYTHS ABOUT RAPE. THE AUTHOR USES CRIMINOLOGICAL STATISTICS TO DRAW A PORTRAIT OF THE ORDINARY, VIOLENCE-PRONE YOUNG MAN SHE CALLS 'THE POLICE-BLOTTER RAPIST,' AND DETAILS HOW HE FUNCTIONS AND HOW THE FORCES OF SOCIETY MANAGE TO LET HIM GO SCOT-FREE. AN EXAMINATION OF 'THE FEMALE VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY' - HOW IT HAS BEEN CONDITIONED AND HOW IT CAN BE CHANGED - IS ALSO CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE USE OF PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF ACTUAL RAPE VICTIMS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)