ABSTRACT
Feminist theorists and political activists have brought attention to the three sexuality issues described in this chapter-rape, sexual harassment, and woman battery. For many, these symbolize the exploitation women have suffered in male-dominated societies: Only attacking and undermining the cultural support for these practices will secure the personal autonomy necessary for the pursuit of happiness. The problems raised by sexual intimidation and, more importantly, their solutions, remained in the private sphere for centuries. In the 1960s and 1970s, the emerging women’s movement brought them to the public agenda, both at the federal level and in every state. This chapter describes how rape, sexual harassment, and woman battery issues came to the public agenda, the policy debates that ensued, the changes in the law that resulted, and assessments of their effectiveness.
