Beyond Blurred Lines

September 19, 2016
Phillips, an associate sociology and criminal justice professor at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, devotes this thoughtful study to the concept of rape culture, showing how it has reshaped public debate. Phillips explains the term’s transition from being used principally within feminist academe—where it originated in the 1970s—to becoming a topic of discussion throughout mainstream media. Exploring recent subjects of controversy, including the social media–fueled national interest in the Steubenville, Ohio, sexual assault case; the depiction of sexual violence on television; misogyny within gaming culture; and the incidence of assaults on college campuses, she maintains that today’s increased discussions around the topic have created a “media-cultural environment that ultimately impacts politics and policy making.” The book also shows that, although much work remains to be done in clarifying and improving college disciplinary policies, enforcement of existing rules against sexual assault is making headway across campuses. And, as Phillips acknowledges, the media coverage of sexual assault cases and increased discussion of rape culture has raised cultural awareness and a move toward “finding solutions that lie outside the scope of criminal justice.” This new book will contribute to an important
conversation.