New Book - Rape: Challenging Contemporary Thinking

Thursday 2 July 2009

This important collection of essays brings into focus issues central to the crime of rape, doing so in new and exciting ways. Adopting a variety of conceptual and methodological approaches, this group of leading European scholars collectively offers in both breath and depth, a comprehensive and scholarly examination of the obstacles confronting the processing of sexual assault cases through the criminal justice system. The book will be of value to students, researchers, practitioners, policy makers and activists. Most notably, it offers a fresh analysis that will spark and guide discussion, research and ultimately reform and change.
- Professor Regina A. Schuller, Professor of Psychology and Graduate Program Director at York University, Toronto, Canada.

'Not for many years has such a fine and important collection of articles on the topic of rape been brought together from so many diverse perspectives. Using a wide and innovative range of methods, Understanding Rape forces us to confront the insidious myths that continue to permeate individual relationships, social and cultural norms, and criminal justice processes, myths which effectively deny justice to rape survivors. Miranda Horvath and Jennifer Brown and the contributors to this volume provide a compelling examination of the experience of rape from the perspective of survivors and bring to the fore the deeply-rooted systemic biases held by bystanders, police, prosecutors, and jurors. This book is mandatory reading for criminal justice professionals and others who respond to rape survivors in any capacity. It will challenge the complacency of all those who would have us believe that the battle for women's equality has been won.'
- Dr Holly Johnson is Associate Professor in the Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa and author of Dangerous Domains: Violence Against Women in Canada

'This is a thoughtful and provocative collection presenting an integrated overview of key issues in the sexual assault field - a brilliant resource for students, researchers, practitioners and anyone wanting to understand why justice for rape victims continues to be so elusive. It arises from passionate debates among the leading European researchers in the field and will undoubtedly foster and inform international dialogue and developments for many years to come.'
- Professor Jan Jordan (Professor of Criminology, Victoria University of Wellington)

'This comprehensive book discusses current research on major issues of concern to feminist rape researchers. This work by European psychologists and social scientists is a welcome addition to a field that has been dominated by U.S. researchers.'
- Professor Irene Hanson Frieze (Professor of Psychology, Women's Studies and Business Administration,University of Pittsburgh; editor of Sex Roles: A Journal of Research)

'This is an excellent set of readings, sensitively edited, which add to our understanding of this difficult subject and challenge many preconceptions about it. Should be read by all the key professionals in the criminal justice system and by anyone engaged in current concerns and controversies.'
- Professor Frances Heidensohn (Editor of the British Journal of Sociology based at the London School of Economics)