Transforming a Rape Culture [Hardcover]

Emilie Buchwald (Author), Pamela R. Fletcher (Author), Martha Roth (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993

A rape culture is a society that accepts sexual violence as the norm. In this groundbreaking new work, a diverse group of opinions lays the foundation for change in basic attitudes about power, gender, race, and sexuality--for a future without sexual violence. National tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The contributors to this invaluable sourcebook share the conviction that rape is epidemic because our society encourages male aggression and tacitly or overtly supports violence against women. Cumulatively, these 34 essays by such figures as Gloria Steinem, Andrea Dworkin, Ntozake Shange, Michael Kimmel and Louise Erdrich situate rape on a continuum extending from sexist language to pornography, sexual harassment in schools and the workplace, wife battering and date and marital rape. Most of the selections were written for this volume. Highlights include a proposal to make rape a presidential election issue, an analysis of the churches' ambivalent response to societal violence, guidelines for raising boys to view themselves as nurturing, nonviolent fathers and inspirational visions of personal or institutional change. Buchwald is publisher/editor of Milkweed, Fletcher an English professor at North Hennepin Community College in Minnesota and Roth edits the feminist quarterly, Hurricane Alice.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Well-edited, worthy compendium of writings about sex and violence in our culture. In 34 essays--some reprinted, many published here first--well- known feminist activists, university professors, theologians, novelists, editors, and politicians diagnose and prescribe remedies for a society that daily demeans and circumscribes women with the threat of rape. Andrea Dworkin's famous ``I Want a Twenty-Four Hour Truce'' opens the collection: It's a 1983 speech to a ``men's movement'' seminar in which Dworkin passionately challenges men to begin to shun and punish each other for the act of rape. In ``Erotica vs. Pornography,'' Gloria Steinem makes an early (1977) version of the now-familiar argument for banning pornography as tool of male dominance. In ``Radical Heterosexuality,'' reprinted from Ms., Naomi Wolf analyzes ``relationships'' in light (or gloom) of rape. More positively, in ``What Women Want,'' Milkweed's editor-in-chief Buchwald proposes specific principles that women impart to their daughters as a means to avoid but not fear rape; and in ``How Rape is Encouraged in American Boys,'' sociologist Myriam Miedzian prescribes a curriculum to train boys not to attain gender identity through misogyny and rape. Other essays offer first-person accounts of sexual harassment, enforced subordination, and rape; explore the psychology of gender cruelty; report on sexual intimidation and violence within American churches and on college campuses; and devise new tactics for changing laws and language that normalize sexual aggression. The book closes with a section of ``visions'' of a better world, including Louise Erdrich's a beautiful meditation on women's spiritual liberation from ``The Veils.'' An impressive collection on a subject that should be of wider interest and concern. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 467 pages
• Publisher: Milkweed Editions; 1St Edition edition (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915943069
• ISBN-13: 978-0915943067
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #681,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recomend, January 2, 2003

By 

cyndi-lou-who (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transforming a Rape Culture (Paperback)

Transforming a Rape Culture, by Milkweed Editions is a book that has input from thirty-seven active feminists; twenty-five women and twelve men, who all play different roles in life. Their occupations range from book and article writers, to psychologists, speakers, teachers, parents, and more. Having many authors, instead of just one, gives this book an advantage over one author's opinion. It was definitely written to spark an emotion in everybody to make change. The book's topic effects and influences everybody in some way in life to make a change, even if it's just within themselves. It succeeded in doing so. The book analyzes the factors in our culture, which promote and support not only rape, but also sexual assault, and harassment. It also presents ideas and methods to end it. All the sections throughout this book are linked nicely together giving it a strong analytical flow from all the authors - all seeking nothing less than a fundamental culture change with a method achieve it through the change of power, gender, race, and religion.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Book, June 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Transforming a Rape Culture (Paperback)

This anthology should be read by anyone, male or female, who is disgusted living in a world of violence. The individual essays are drawn from a wide band of opinions, experiences, and ideas making the entire book a powerful case for the end of violence (esspecially violence against women). It is esspecially eye-opening for men (like myself) who after reading this anthology will find themselves questioning thier own ideas and relationships with women.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT!, December 27, 1999

By 

Suzette - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transforming a Rape Culture (Paperback)

This is a phenomenal book written by some of the most influential, feminist writers of the '90s. Because it is a complilation of the thoughts of a variety of writers both male and female, you really get a well-rounded, inspirational view of how we can change our world for the better. I guarantee that it will make you mad, it will make you think, it will sadden you at times and make you want to change the world.

I have this book highlit and dog eared from cover to cover noting ideas, dreams and writing in my thoughts in the margins. I did not necessarily agree with everything that was said in this book, but it sure provoked me, none-the-less. Both men and women can benefit from reading this... it does not offend. It mearly invokes thought and, hopefully, change. We desperately need it.