Covers the experience of a range of forms of sexual violence over women's
lifetimes. Drawing on feminist theory, developing a critique of male research
and quoting extensively from the women interviewed, the book develops feminist
thought in several key areas.Women's awareness of the threat and reality of sexual violence is now
perhaps more than ever publicly acknowledged. Yet this fact continues to be
almost wholly ignored. This new study, based on in-depth interviews with 60
women, is the first to cover the experience of a range of forms of sexual
violence over women's lifetimes. Drawing on feminist theory, developing a
critique of male research and quoting extensively from the women interviewed,
it developes feminist thought in several key areas: the similarities and
differences between forms of sexual violence; the ways women define their
experiences; and the strategies women use in resisting, coping with and
surviving sexual violence.; The author stresses the importance for all women of recognizing the
incidents of sexual violence in their lives and seeing themselves and other
women as survivors rather than victims. In highlighting the ways in which the
media, the criminal justice system and even the "helping" professions
contribute to the trivialization of sexual violence, she demonstrates the
necessity of women organizing collectively to end this suffering.
