Recovering From Rape (Paperback)

by Linda E. Ledray (Author) "Whatever you did-accepted a ride from a stranger, wore a low-cut blouse, had too much to drink with someone you met in a bar, invited..." (more)
Key Phrases: nurse clinician programs, sexual assault nurse clinician, evidentiary exam, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Director of the Minneapolis Sexual Assault Resource Center, the author offers a guidebook for rape victims. In a matter-of-fact yet sympathetic tone, she discusses the rape itself, emergency medical treatment, how to report the crime to the police and avenues of legal redress. Ledray focuses as well on the rape victims' loved ones, who are considered by many to be secondary victims, and she suggests ways to prevent rape. Also of use: national listings of rape crisis centers and additional reading.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
YA A comprehensive, unemotional and honest presentation of how to deal with the aftermath of a rape. The book is addressed to the rape victim and the significant others in her life. Ledray, a registered nurse on the staff of a sexual assault center, provides clear, detailed information on all aspects of rape: dealing with the police, obtaining medical care, counseling and what to expect from the legal system. The emotional responses normal to a rape victim and those close to her are discussed extensively, and this section should be of great help to anyone in this situation. Since Ledray feels that rape is sociocultural in origin and therefore not likely to be eradicated, she provides practical strategies for self-protection and prevention. A state-by-state list of rape crisis centers is included. Marlene M. Kuhl, Baltimore County Public Library
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 2 edition (August 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805029281
• ISBN-13: 978-0805029284
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86,971 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recovering from Rape, October 3, 2002

By	Oceana - See all my reviews

This book discusses rape myths and helped me to understand that the rapes I endured were not my fault (for not being able to protect myself from the rape). We can do our best to protect ourselves, but the rapist is responsible for his actions. Her discussion of significant others also helped me to understand the misdirected anger expressed by one of my loved ones when I told him about the rapes. Also her discussion of sociocultural preventive strategies was very reassuring to me that there is hope for ending the frequency of sexual violence. It was also very helpful that she provides extensive information about the legal aspects of prosecuting rape, and of rape laws. Linda Ledray is a very caring woman, she is sensitive to the feelings of rape survivors, and aware of how often rape and child abuse occurs. Linda works in a rape crisis center, and she provides a somewhat extensive listing of rape crisis centers across the United States. It is very important that people be educated about the usefulness of rape crisis centers.

It was helpful to hear other examples of rape, but sometimes it was too triggering to hear so many horrible experiences all at once (during the time that I was trying to heal myself). However, the stories she included were very important for educating people about how easily a rapist can lie, be believed, and not be convicted (as well as how often people in law enforcement believe rapists deserve to be protected from the stigma of a rape conviction). The examples also helped me to understand my own reactions to the rapes I endured (for that reason it was good that she included examples of many different experiences). The most difficult aspect of the book was reading about the mentality of a rapist.

This book is only a beginning to healing, and you may need to read other books to understand more of the complex and long term reactions that you may be experiencing.

Good luck to you all on your journey to healing!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5-stars and not just because OPRAH recommended it!, August 18, 2000

By	ISLAND GIRL EAST (USA) - See all my reviews

With respects to significant others, friends and family, this book covers a sufficient beginnings on what a victim may need for understanding. A victim? I'll have to sign-on under that category for what happened a long time ago. When I was in recovery counseling, individual and group, this book helped me to leap into higher levels of coping skills. When I was healing, I was hunting for genuine helpful knowledge under every rock and around every aisle. I didn't need alphabet-soup authors who published nonsense, empty hypothesis, trying to impress their awed students. I needed help.

Linda Ledray, Dr. Ledray knows the subject matter, rape recovery. She knows the will that we victims whisper inside--the one that wants for a better level in life, perhaps a happy one. GO FOR IT! This book is not a panacea. If you are a victim, there will always be more issues on your hunt, like there was with mine. We are individuals, each experience is different.

I am back today, to purchase a third copy of this book. A young woman is going through the early stages of recovery. She's remembering the monsters and is plenty on the: "Why me?" "What did I do to..." She could use a little solid matter to peruse. I'm just a friend. My best choice was to shut my thoughts and get her this book. It was the best book resource among my hunt.

God bless you, all and all who care. Having your personality crunched-down and your soul invaded is not a matter to take lightly for a woman or a man or a boy or a girl or an infant. Dr. Ledray will cover that. Maybe someday, the law will reflect realistic trial proceedures and sentences. IN the end, God will always know the tally.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for the "Basics", December 19, 2000

By	Amy Miller "ky_cats" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

I bought this book after my first assault and am now re-reading it for a 3rd time, having been raped again. It is a GREAT book for the "basics". On the survivor's side, Dr. Ledray reminds you that you are not alone and you are not going crazy. She discusses the steps in everything from complete denial to going to court to STD's. For the secondary victim's (signifigant others), this book is not going to tell you everything that you want to know, but it can at least get you moving in the right direction.

Dr. Ledray does know survivors and that may be why she comes across as a "fear all men" kind of woman. But what she is truly expressing is that most survivors fear all men.

When I met my fiance, one year after my first rape, he had never known anyone who had been raped before. I kept asking him to read the book, because I couldn't explain to him what I needed or make him understand how I felt. About 3 months before my second rape, he read the book and he and I both saw a change in our relationship. After I came home from the hospital, he didn't ask why I felt a certain way or why I couldn't let it go. He had some sense of how I felt and how traumatizing it was for me.

Just don't buy this book to be the "fix" for everything. It's not, but it is a step in the right direction.