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The Everydayness of Rape

How Understanding Sexual Assault Perpetration Can Inform Prevention Efforts

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Preventing Sexual Violence

Abstract

The inexorable weight of 30 years of feminist activism and research, and the last decade of violence against women being framed as a priority public health issue, has resulted in women’s experiences of sexual assault being more readily recognised, more appropriately responded to and, in a general sense at least, less easily excused. Despite our greater capacity to recognise the reality of sexual assault — that it occurs in the relationships closest to us, and significantly impacts women’s well-being — we have real difficulty keeping perpetrators and their behaviours in sight. This is particularly evident in the news media. Reports often describe the number of victims, the impacts of the assault and the challenge of effective services. The perpetrator slips quietly from view.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Institute of Family Studie, Australia

    Antonia Quadara (manages the sexual violence research programme)

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  1. Antonia Quadara
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Politics, Philosophy and Legal Studies, La Trobe University, Australia

    Nicola Henry (Senior Lecturer) (Senior Lecturer)

  2. RMIT University Melbourne, Australia

    Anastasia Powell (Lecturer in Justice & Legal Studies) (Lecturer in Justice & Legal Studies)

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© 2014 Antonia Quadara

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Quadara, A. (2014). The Everydayness of Rape. In: Henry, N., Powell, A. (eds) Preventing Sexual Violence. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137356192_3

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