A History of Rape: Sexual Violence in France from the 16th to the 20th Century Contributor(s): Vigarello, Georges (Author) |
|||
ISBN: 0745621694 ISBN-13: 9780745621692 Publisher: Polity Press
Binding Type: Hardcover Published: January 2001 Annotation: This important new book, by one of the leading social historians in France today, analyses the changing meaning of rape through numerous case studies across the centuries.The book begins with a history of the relative tolerance of sexual violence in early modern France, and the tendency to condemn the victims by enveloping them in the shame of the act. It then traces the changing legal attitudes to sexual violence at the end of the eighteenth century, and the slow recognition of the role of moral violence in rape in the nineteenth century. Vigarello also stresses the importance of the new medical jurisprudence and the introduction of forensic psychiatry into the courtroom.But despite the increased number of convictions in the nineteenth century, it was only after the campaigns conducted by feminists in the twentieth century that the true gravity of rape as a crime against women's integrity was fully recognized. As a result, acts of sexual violence are no longer assessed in terms of the risk of debauchery, but in terms of the risk of 'psychic murder' and inner damage.A History of Rape is a valuable resource for students and scholars of social history, and anyone interested in changing attitudes to sexuality and sexual violence |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - History | Europe - France - History | Social History - Social Science | Violence In Society |
Dewey: 364.153 |
LCCN: 00033620 |
Physical Information: 1.14" H x 6.26" W x 9.29" L (1.29 lbs) 320 pages |
Themes: - Cultural Region - French |
Features: Bibliography, Index, Table of Contents |
Review Citations: Reference and Research Bk News 02/01/2002 pg. 132 |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: This important new book, by one of the leading social historians in France today, analyses the changing meaning of rape through numerous case studies across the centuries. The book begins with a history of the relative tolerance of sexual violence in early modern France, and the tendency to condemn the victims by enveloping them in the shame of the act. It then traces the changing legal attitudes to sexual violence at the end of the eighteenth century, and the slow recognition of the role of moral violence in rape in the nineteenth century. Vigarello also stresses the importance of the new medical jurisprudence and the introduction of forensic psychiatry into the courtroom. But despite the increased number of convictions in the nineteenth century, it was only after the campaigns conducted by feminists in the twentieth century that the true gravity of rape as a crime against women's integrity was fully recognized. As a result, acts of sexual violence are no longer assessed in terms of the risk of debauchery, but in terms of the risk of 'psychic murder' and inner damage. A History of Rape is a valuable resource for students and scholars of social history, and anyone interested in changing attitudes to sexuality and sexual violence |
Customer ReviewsSubmit your own review |
To tell a friend about this book, you must Sign In First! |