Researching Sexual Violence against Women

Book excerpt: As the backlash against feminist research continues unabated, this important volume signals no retreat. Bringing together the foremost international researchers in the area of violence against women, Researching Sexual Violence Against Women offers excellent assessments of the dimensions of date rape-particularly on college campuses. Reasons why this form of violence against women has provoked such intense responses as well as new methodologies are thoroughly explored. Finally, the work examines the impact this research has on those who do it and calls for more work on women′s victimization and the links between it and other forms of discrimination. --Meda Chesney-Lind, Women′s Studies Program, University of Hawaii--Manoa A remarkable introduction to research in the field, Researching Sexual Violence Against Women provides cutting-edge information on the various studies conducted on North American campuses. This compelling book not only provides a strong overview of the entire field but also simultaneously offers an answer to backlash critics who claim that feminists exaggerate their statistics. Several of the best-known researchers describe their own work and that of others to illustrate both large-scale and local studies. The contributors also take a compelling look into the emotions of sexual assault research by discussing their own emotional experiences of working with rape research, including experiences of harassment by subjects or disrespect by colleagues. In addition, several scholars peruse empirical and epistemological questions--and arrive at surprising conclusions-on feminist participatory research into lesbian battering, reflexivity in studying prostitutes, the gendered nature of research interviews, and white women studying battered women of color. Including chapters on very hot topics and celebrating feminist research methodology, Researching Sexual Violence Against Women speaks to a broad audience, including researchers, academics, professionals, and students in the areas of interpersonal violence, social work, sociology, criminology, women′s studies, psychology, family studies, and counseling as well as college administrators and mental health practitioners.