Law, Literature, and Violence Against Women - Ending the Victim Blame Game

This book engages legal and literary texts in order to examine acquaintance crimes, such as rape, sexual harassment, stalking, and domestic abuse, and to challenge how the victim's physical or psychological "freeze response" is commonly and inaccurately mistaken for her consent.
Following increased interest in the #MeToo movement and the discoveries of sexual abuse by numerous public figures, this book analyzes themes in law and literature that discredit victims and protect wrongdoers. Interpreting a present-day novel alongside legislation and written court cases, each chapter pairs a fictional text with a nonfictional counterpart. In these pairings, the themes, events, and arguments of each are carefully unpacked and compared against one another. As the cross-readings unfold, we learn that a victim does not "ask for it," and she should not arouse suspicions just because she does not fight, run away, or report the crime. Instead, and as this book demonstrates, the more common and most practical response is to become physically and mentally paralyzed by fear; the victim dissociates, shuts down, and remains stuck in the fright and captivity of abuse.
This book will interest scholars and students working in, and especially at the intersection of, law, literature, gender studies, and criminology.

List of contents

1. Introduction: Law, Literature, Gender-Based Violence, and a Culture of Disbelief 2. Acquaintance Rape: A Victim's "Freeze Response" Mistaken for Consent in Thirteen Reasons Why (2007) 3. Domestic Violence: A Victim's Emotional Paralysis Mistaken for Acceptance in Black and Blue (1998) 4. Stalking: A Victim's Powerlessness Mistaken for Tolerance in You (2014) 5. Sexual Harassment: A Victim's Inaction Mistaken for Acquiescence in The Boys Club (2020) 6. Conclusion: Putting Theory Into Practice

About the author

Erin L. Kelley is Professor of English at Dallas College, USA.

Product details

• Authors: Erin L. Kelley
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 26.12.2025
• EAN: 9781032301389
• ISBN: 978-1-032-30138-9
• No. of pages: 118
• Weight: 230 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; History, Cultural Studies, LAW / General, Criminal law & procedure, LITERARY CRITICISM / Subjects & Themes / Women, LAW / Gender & the Law, Politics & government, Humanities, Feminism & feminist theory, Gender & the law, Literary studies: general, Politics and government, Legal aspects of criminology, Gender studies, gender groups, Social Law, Feminism and feminist theory, Crime and criminology, Crime & criminology, Criminology: legal aspects, Law and society, gender issues, Criminal law: procedure and offences, Social law and Medical law