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Asking for It

the Alarming Rise of Rape Culture--and What We Can Do About It
MaxineML
Aug 27, 2015MaxineML rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Equal parts depressing, great, and inspiring. Like all of Harding's work this is a well written and well researched book - the topic may make some people uncomfortable, but this should be a must read. Harding takes a hard look at what exactly is meant by "rape culture," defines it, and then spends most of the book illustrating how our society lives up to the definition. She also deals with the concept of 'date-rape', consent culture and how things are (slowly, but surely!) changing. At times this is a difficult book to read - it's hard not to read about the Steubenville rape case, from Ohio, without wanting to smack someone upside the head. And it's hard to read about the utter nonsense spewed from members of congress ("legitimate rape" anyone?), but it is, nevertheless, required to understand the wider issues surrounding sex, sexuality, gender, consent, and rape in our society. Seriously. Everyone should read this.