When Rape was Legal

The Untold History of Sexual Violence during Slavery
1. Auflage 2018
ISBN: 978-1-138-62968-4
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd (Sales)

Buch, Englisch, 108 Seiten, Format (B × H): 154 mm x 227 mm, Gewicht: 177 g

Reihe: New Critical Viewpoints on Society

When Rape was Legal is the first book to solely focus on the widespread rape perpetrated against enslaved black women by white men in the United States. The routine practice of sexual violence against enslaved black women by white men, the motivations for this rape, and the legal context that enabled this violence are all explored and scrutinized. Enlightening analysis found that rape was not merely a result of sexual desire and opportunity, or simply a form of punishment and racial domination, but instead encompassed all of these dimensions as part of the identity of white masculinity. This provocative text highlights the significant role that white women played in enabling sexual violence against enslaved black women through a variety of responses and, at times, through their lack of response to the actions of the white men in their lives. Significantly, this book finds that sexual violence against enslaved black women was a widespread form of oppression used to perform white masculinity and reinforce an intersectional hierarchy. Additionally, white women played a vital role by enabling this sexual violence and perpetuating the subordination of themselves and those subordinate to them.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Feinstein, Rachel A

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziologie Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. The Voices of Black Women & Black Men: Why Sexual Violence by White Men was Rampant during Slavery Chapter 3. White Masculinity and Sexual Violence against Enslaved Black Women Chapter 4. White Women’s Role in Sexual Violence of Enslaved Black Women Chapter 5. The Power of Language: White Women’s Divorce Petitions Chapter 6. Racialized & Gendered Sexual Violence Today

Über Autor(innen)

Rachel A. Feinstein received her Ph.D. in Sociology from Texas A&M University in 2014. She has since worked as Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Carthage College in Wisconsin, and is currently teaching in the Sociology Department at California State University, Fullerton. Her research, both contemporary and historical, combines Criminology, Race/Ethnicity and Gender Studies, and can be found in several sociology and criminology journals.