Description
Book SynopsisScience plays a substantial, though under-acknowledged, role in shaping popular understandings of rape. Statistical figures like “1 in 4 women have experienced completed or attempted rape” are central for raising awareness. Yet such scientific facts often become points of controversy, particularly as conservative scholars and public figures attempt to discredit feminist activists.
Rape by the Numbers explores scientists’ approaches to studying rape over more than forty years in the United States and Canada. In addition to investigating how scientists come to know the scope, causes, and consequences of rape, this book delves into the politics of rape research. Scholars who study rape often face a range of social pressures and resource constraints, including some that are unique to feminized and politicized fields of inquiry. Collectively, these matters have far-reaching consequences. Scientific projects may determine who counts as a potential victim/survivor or aggressor in a range of contexts, shaping research agendas as well as state policy, anti-violence programming and services, and public perceptions. Social processes within the study of rape determine which knowledges count as credible science, and thus who may count as an expert in academic and public contexts.
Trade Review"This book will truly be a welcome wake-up call for those social scientists dedicated to studying rape and sexual assault. It effectively reveals the many blind spots of much of the work that has been done over the past several decades, and is refreshingly full of valid and reasonable recommendations and potential solutions to help move this field of study forward most inclusively and productively." -- Deborah White * Professor, Trent University *
“
Rape by the Numbers is an important, well-researched, theoretically sophisticated, and engagingly presented book. It brings concepts from the field of science and technology studies together with quantitative and qualitative data to generate an important analysis and set of recommendations about the social science of sexual violence.” -- Alexandra Rutherford * director, Psychology's Feminist Voices Oral History and Digital Archive Project, York University *
"
Rape by the Numbers lights a path toward more critical and equitable rape research. I encourage students of gender, sexuality, labor, feminist science, and violence to follow where that newly lit path leads." * Gender & Society *
"This book will truly be a welcome wake-up call for those social scientists dedicated to studying rape and sexual assault. It effectively reveals the many blind spots of much of the work that has been done over the past several decades, and is refreshingly full of valid and reasonable recommendations and potential solutions to help move this field of study forward most inclusively and productively." -- Deborah White * Professor, Trent University *
“
Rape by the Numbers is an important, well-researched, theoretically sophisticated, and engagingly presented book. It brings concepts from the field of science and technology studies together with quantitative and qualitative data to generate an important analysis and set of recommendations about the social science of sexual violence.” -- Alexandra Rutherford * director, Psychology's Feminist Voices Oral History and Digital Archive Project, York University *
"
Rape by the Numbers lights a path toward more critical and equitable rape research. I encourage students of gender, sexuality, labor, feminist science, and violence to follow where that newly lit path leads." * Gender & Society *
"This book is essential reading, and a powerful reminder to sexual violence scientists to consider and reflect on the partial knowledge they/we produce, and the social processes that impact and are impacted by their/our research." -- Heather R. Hlavka * Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books *
Table of Contents1 Introduction
Part I Conceptualizing Rape
2 Locating the Problem
3 Accounting for Rape
4 Investigating the Aftermath
Part II Social Mechanisms
5 Choosing to Study Rape
6 Dividends and Detriments of Dissent
7 Conclusion
Appendix: Interview Guide
Acknowledgments
Notes
References
Index
