Real Rape

by Susan Estrich

Many men believe that they can force women to have sex against their will and that it isn’t rape―at least, not if the man knows the women and doesn’t beat her up or wield a weapon. The law’s casual treatment of such rape cases is the subject of this pioneering book, which is both a powerful exposé of the often shocking facts and a trenchantly written call for reform.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gender

176 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 1988

About the author

Susan Estrich is a Professor of Law at the University of Southern California. She has worked in politics as a congressional consul and a presidential campaign manager. She is a commentator on law and politics for FOX News.

Reviews

[Steven Yenzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit academic for my tastes, but I am probably not the target audience. Provides a great overview of the history of rape law and the sorry state of case law in the 80s -- which is not much improved today.

[Atif Taj · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prosecution of simple rape - the rape described by the defendant closer to victim - is harder to prove. The burden of proof lies on the victim. The resistance, the force, the corroboration, the belief , the sexual history, the character, the lack of intent are all the factors that make legal prosecution have the victim “the second rape”

Adult women are required to resist when the the man is an adult neighbor (Brown v State), but not when he is a drunken youth (Prokop v State) White women are not required to resist to black man (Bailey v Commonwealth), but black women are.

[Giulia M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read massively on the topic, so for me it was nothing new. It was still well written, clear and a must-read for women.