Rape Is Rape
How Denial, Distortion, and Victim Blaming Are Fueling a Hidden Acquaintance Rape Crisis
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
A call to action to protect the human rights of women and girls, this exposé reveals how interest groups deny the seriousness of rape to further their political agendas. Through firsthand interviews with victims; medical and judicial records; social media; and statistics from police, the FBI, and government agencies, this analysis explains the tactics used by these groups. The personal stories of young rape victims demonstrate how assaults on their credibility, buttressed by claims of low prevalence, prevent many from holding their rapists accountable, enabling them to rape others with impunity. A resources section is also included for those seeking help, advice, or hoping to become involved in the struggle.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Attorney and advocate Raphael (Freeing Tammy: Women, Drugs, and Incarceration) effectively argues that "the time has come for rape denial to become as unacceptable as Holocaust denial." Here she holds all parties accountable: male conservatives and right-wing apologists who push the idea of false rape claims as female revenge; feminists like Katie Roiphe, who suggests that those who claim to be victims of acquaintance rape may be confusing rape with "bad sex"; politicians like Todd Akin who distinguish between "forcible rape" and other assaults; police who neglect to test rape kits; victim advocates who use inaccurate statistics; and journalists who use a "he said/she said" model for reporting. The resulting culture of victim-blaming means that when victims do come forward, they can expect indifference, disbelief, and even punishment. Raphael presents clear statistics on rape prevalence and reporting, consistent with a number of studies often ignored by policymakers and the press. She juxtaposes this research with firsthand interviews with acquaintance-rape victims and in-depth discussions of recent rape cases in the news, including those involving the Duke lacrosse team and Julian Assange. The result is a compelling, grim account of the struggle for victims of sexual violence to be heard and believed.
