Forcible Rape and Sexual Violence

Abstract

Although forcible rape and other sexual crimes have been neglected by criminologists until relatively recently, the last decade or so has witnessed a good deal of theoretical and/or research work on these matters. The lines of activity pursued by investigators have been quite varied, but samples of these different interests are included in this review. One major direction has involved macro-level studies of rape rates, both cross-culturally and within the United States. One well-known macro-level theory holds that forcible rape is a means employed by males to maintain sexual inequality, whereas other arguments represent theories of sexual access. Several macro-level research investigations are reviewed, the findings of which appear to be mixed or equivocal. Research focused on individual offenders, such as probing inside the heads of rapists, has also been conducted. Research has been directed at criminal justice system processing of accused rapists, rape law reform, and the impact of the rape experience upon victims. This review also argues that sexual diversity is marked in American society and that more research is called for which identifies the varieties of sexual conduct. Additionally, although some progress has been made in recent years in the direction of a detailed and sophisticated body of theory regarding sexual socialization, more effort needs to be expended upon the articulation of basic theory. Finally, marked progress toward a full understanding of forcible rape may depend upon the accomplishment of this theoretical task.

Attitudes Toward Rape and Victims of Rape

“…The difficulty in delineating the concept of feminism-and for that matter the feminist theory of rape-is reflected in Russo's (1999) introductory remark that "although the definition of feminism on the surface may appear simple and straightforward, the devil is in the details" (p. i). Several feminist perspectives have emerged over the last quarter of the 20th century to account for the causes of sexual violence and attitudes toward victims of sexual violence, especially rape against women (Ellis, 1989;Gibbon, 1984). Dominant among these perspectives is the feminist theory of rape as propounded by Susan Brownmiller (1975) in her book, Against Our Will.…”