ABSTRACT

Is justice possible for a woman raped in contemporary patriarchal culture? This book explores one of the major conundrums of our time: given all the feminist activism and reforms of the last 50 years, why does rape remain so prevalent and justice so elusive? In exploring these questions, Jan Jordan takes us back into the patriarchal origins of our rape culture in order to trace the connections between past laws and current justice realities. Her examination covers developments in police and court processes and explores the connections between men, masculinity, and rape before considering the scope of rape prevention. She argues the need for urgent transformation of the rape-condoning cultures that currently make it impossible for rape prevalence to abate or for rape victims to receive justice.

chapter 1|36 pages

The rape conundrum

chapter 2|42 pages

Rape laws; rape lore

chapter 3|57 pages

Seeking rape justice

chapter 4|40 pages

Riding the review-go-round

chapter 5|59 pages

Men, masculinity, and rape

chapter 6|42 pages

Preventing rape; challenging patriarchy

chapter 7|16 pages

The end is the beginning