Researching Sexual Violence against Women

Methodological and Personal Perspectives

Martin D. Schwartz

• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Year: 1997
• Print ISBN: 9780803973701, 9780803973695
• eBook ISBN: 9781452249148
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Interpersonal Relations in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

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.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Contents
• Preface
• Part I - Introduction: Research on Sexual Assault on College Campuses
• Chapter 1 - Stepping on Toes: Social Roots of Date Rape Lead to Intractability and Politicization
• Chapter 2 - A Longitudinal Approach to the Study of Sexual Assault: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations
• Chapter 3 - Measuring Sexual Abuse in Canadian University/College Dating Relationships: The Contribution of a National Represe tative Sample Survey
• Chapter 4 - Acquaintance Rape is Real Rape
• Chapter 5 - Self-Blame in Hidden Rape Cases
• Part II - Emotion in Researching Violence Against Women
• Chapter 6 - "I Second That Emotion": Reflections on Feminism, Emotionality, and Research on Sexual Violence
• Chapter 7 - Activist Research and Social Narratives: Dialectics of Power, Privilege, and Institutional Change
• Chapter 8 - Field Research with Phone Sex Workers: Managing the Researcher's Emotions
• Chapter 9 - The Sexual Harassment of Researchers by Research Subjects: Lessons from the Field
• Part III - Doing Research on Violence Against Women
• Chapter 10 - Confessions of a Reformed Positivist: Feminist Participatory Research as Good Social Science
• Chapter 11 - Researching Violence Against Street Prostitutes: Issues of Epistemology, Methodology, and Ethics
• Chapter 12 - Measuring Violence Against Women: The Interview as a Gendered Social Encounter
• Chapter 13 - Studying Violence against Women of Color: Problems Faced by a White Woman
• References
• Index
• About the Authors