NCJ Number
153607
Date Published
1994
Length
336 pages
Annotation
Using Anita Hill's testimony regarding her alleged sexual harassment at the hands of Supreme Court Justice nominee Clarence Thomas as a starting point for this discussion, this book uses interviews with many women victims to illustrate the depth and variety of male violence against women.
Abstract
The book uses the women's narrative to explore various types of sexual harassment, including lewd remarks, unwanted propositions, inappropriate touching, and the constant threat of sexual violence. The women whose stories are told here work in factories, universities, government, media, the military, and medicine. The author explores the ways in which women have been intimidated by fears of female sexuality and examines the cultural tradition that has led to an imbalance of power between men and women. The author strives to shift the discussion from one that blames the victim to one that empowers the victim and accuses the assailant. Anita Hill's testimony, and the reaction to it, has sparked a new cultural revolution, linking the political aspirations of women and black Americans.