Book review: redefining rape: sexual violence in the era of suffrage and segregation by Estelle B. Freedman

Rape has never had a universally accepted definition, and the uproar over “legitimate rape” during the 2012 U.S. elections confirms that it remains a word in flux. This book aims to tell the story of the forces that have shaped the meaning of sexual violence in the United States, through the experiences of accusers, assailants, and advocates for change. Estelle B. Freedman’s book synthesizes a tremendous range of secondary literature, much of it produced in the last twenty years, but it also is grounded in extensive primary source research, especially newspapers and legal cases. Bruce E. Baker finds that this is clearly and elegantly written, and has the potential to challenge students’ complacency about history and progress, especially when it comes to gender and race.