Abstract
The history of the anti-rape movement in the United States is one that has unfolded over a period of many years and has been shaped by the complex social and political landscapes in which sexual violence occurs. This chapter provides snapshots of anti-rape activism from early US history to the twenty-first century. As well, the chapter explores the differences between radical and liberal feminists because differences in these ideologies have shaped the anti-rape movement significantly, beginning with the consciousness-raising groups of the 1970s. Rape crisis centers are a tangible outcome of activism that continues to serve victim-survivors today; and the history of their establishment is discussed. Throughout, the chapter raises questions about the interlocking systems of racism and misogyny that have helped to maintain power-based violence and, more specifically, render rape allowable in our society. Readers may wish to explore what difference they can make in their own communities as anti-sexual violence advocates.
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McMahon, S.M. (2019). History of the Anti-Rape Movement. In: O’Donohue, W.T., Schewe, P.A. (eds) Handbook of Sexual Assault and Sexual Assault Prevention. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23645-8_3
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