TY - JOUR
T1 - The next problem with no name
T2 - The politics and pragmatics of the word rape
AU - Harris, Kate Lockwood
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - In this study I asked women how the word rape fit and did not fit their own experiences of forced or unwanted sex with acquaintances. Although some participants noted that the term removed self-blame and indicated severity, most suggested that the word was limiting. It did not distinguish varied harms, created uncomfortable expectations for participants' behavior, eliminated moments of agency, and dichotomized experiences. By considering these limitations of available vocabulary, scholars may develop more robust theories of sexual violence.
AB - In this study I asked women how the word rape fit and did not fit their own experiences of forced or unwanted sex with acquaintances. Although some participants noted that the term removed self-blame and indicated severity, most suggested that the word was limiting. It did not distinguish varied harms, created uncomfortable expectations for participants' behavior, eliminated moments of agency, and dichotomized experiences. By considering these limitations of available vocabulary, scholars may develop more robust theories of sexual violence.
KW - Acquaintance rape
KW - Naming
KW - Nonconsensual sex
KW - Sexual violence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79957955741&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79957955741&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/07491409.2011.566533
DO - 10.1080/07491409.2011.566533
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79957955741
SN - 0749-1409
VL - 34
SP - 42
EP - 63
JO - Women's Studies in Communication
JF - Women's Studies in Communication
IS - 1
ER -
