Customer Reviews

Fraternity Gang Rape: Sex, Brotherhood, and Privilege on Campus (Feminist Crosscurrents Series)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

In response to the many Greeks who wrote reviews disparaging this book because it "perpetuates stereotypes." First of all, to some of you, do not write reviews without reading a book. Second, this book tells the truth about events that happened to quite a few women at my school. It is an Ivy league school, by the way, so just because you have researched a school for its reputation does not protect you. I am a member of a sorority, and I adore it, but the fact that I love the Greek system is all the more reason to support this book. Don't shoot the messenger... this type of event happened very often during the period Sanday researched the book (the 80s) and the book was a significant force in reducing this type of incident. If you love the Greek system, you should be willing to face the truth. A minority of Greek organizations have committed some terrible crimes, and the setup of the Greek party system, brotherhood values, and school protection of male organizations rather than female victims out of concern for their reputations combined to allow them to go unpunished. This book is about how our culture allows people to get away with this type of crime, and how on campuses this behavior is excused. If you want to end what you call stereotypes, work on helping our Greek organizations be the best they can be, and don't be upset with a woman who just told the stories of people who experienced terrible things! I am well aware of the good Greeks do (I'm my sorority's philanthropy chair), but I also know that Sanday (a professor of mine) told the truth in her book, which was only an expose of what happened. Just because we are proud of the Greek system doesn't mean we can't recognize that in some cases it can promote sexual assault (I am also a certified sexual assault counselor, and hear all too often the stories of women who are assaulted on college campuses.) We need to recognize the problem of "a sense of entitlement" and oversexualization at some Greek organizations and work to fix it rather than just ranting at people who dare to air some dirty laundry.

While not a light subject by any means, this was the first book of its kind I could ever find. I also sent a copy to my prosecutor, Police Chief and my husband, a fraternity guy. I am the survivor of a fraternity gang rape and this book really does get to the bottom of herd mentality and why these unspeakable crimes occur, why they are covered up and why they keep happening.

If you are a parent sending a son or daughter off or back to college, I strongly suggest you read this. University brochures would have us think there is no such thing as gang rape on our bucolic campuses, but I am living proof that it happens. God bless this author for shining a light on this terrible subject. While this will never be a best-seller, it should. Well-written, compelling, repulsive and edifying, I am grateful it exists.

Sanday is one of the few researchers with the guts to expose the dark side of the American worship of fraternities and athletes. This American obsession runs so deep and has been unquestioned for so long it's no wonder her research angers those in a position of privilege (think Citadel, think Tailhook). Check out Bernard Lefkowitz's more recent OUR GUYS for a male journalist's take on the same culture of privilege.

It's time for people to quit shielding campus thugs in the name of letting boys be boys. There ARE colleges where fraternities and sororities don't exist, and those of us who went there still made friends, contributed to the community, and had rich social lives. We also had far fewer rapes.

This book echoed a lot of things I saw and heard about while attending school. I never had a use for fraternities but was around them a lot since I played in a band and we played some of their parties. Maybe things have changed somewhat since then, but I would be surprised if that is the case. I think this sort of thing is a lot more common then the "brothers" would like to admit, like hazing. To be fair, I have seen the positive sides of fraternities but have seen a lot more of the herd mentality in them. Parents who are sending daughters away to school would be well advised to read this. Its better to be aware of what could (and does) happen, then to assume all is safe and well.

Sanday is one of the few researchers with the guts to expose the dark side of the American worship of fraternities and athletes. This American obsession runs so deep and has been unquestioned for so long it's no wonder her research angers those in a position of privilege (think Citadel, think Tailhook). Check out Bernard Lefkowitz's more recent OUR GUYS for a male journalist's take on the same culture of privilege. It's time for people to quit shielding campus thugs in the name of letting boys be boys. There ARE colleges where fraternities and sororities don't exist, and those of us who went there still made friends, contributed to the community, and had rich social lives. And we also had far fewer rapes.

When I was choosing a book for a college health course and I stumbled across this book the word that came out was...finally. I did not say that word because I had found a book, it was because someone finally realized the truth. Sanday realized that boys in these fraternities were getting away with rape and not being punished. She also included several testimonies to display the reality of this issue. Sanday was able to research and write about an issue that is definitely prominent on many college campuses,yet is ignored. For people to think that this does not go on they are just as guilty as the person who commits the crime.

Normally, I'd give this title 4 stars, but since a large number of "brothers" who obviously haven't read it are trying to drive down its ratings, it needs a boost from someone who *has*. Before you send your child to college, consider this book an important decision making tool. You may decide to avoid Greek-dominated schools, especially if your college bound child is a girl.

I searched long and hard for a book that covers this topic. It is sad that I was only able to find one about such an important issue. I read the other reviews and became very angry-I guess those "frat boys" are all in denial. I used to be part of the Greek community and was fully aware of the sexual exploitation of girls that goes on. Unfortunately most of these incidents are never made public because of the backlash upon the victims by the fraternity and the entire greek community. Please read this important book-even ten years later nothing has changed.

This is such an amazing and important book. Our culture constantly is protecting young men and their sexist, abusive practices in fraternities. Dr. Sanday gives empirical information regarding the disgusting deplorable practice of the train gang raping of a girl as regular practice in many fraternities. I used this book as a resource in my second edition of "Invisible Girls: The Truth About Sexual Abuse" when comparing frat culture to the pimp culture. This book goes into great detail that people do not want to hear or face.Sanday goes into great detail of the history of frats and how this behavior is taking place today across America. I can only hope that this publication will help prevent some girls from being sexually abused within the frat culture. I believe it should be required reading on all college campuses!

I've met many people from different fraternities who do have honor. They have chosen to speak on behalf of victims in those few trials where the victims were able to bring themselves to report it. I've also met a few from their fraternities that thought those people were liars. "How dare they attack my fraternity?" Was the general statement.

One of the earlier reviews was saying something about how this is perpetuating a stereotype, and is an insult to his fraternity. (paraphrasing). Well, if so... keep in mind that two types of stereotypes are portrayed in this list of reviews itself.

#1: All fraternities perpetuate rape. (paraphrase)

#2: All members of fraternities are innocent people who will never committ anything more than the occasional theft of a candy bar. (paraphrase)

If you want to stop the "stereotype" in this, stop the rapes completely and entirely... then you can be happy that books like this won't need to be written again. Until then, quit your yapping and accept that books like this need to be heard and read.