Rape Fantasies: Rape Culture and the Persistence of Sexual Violence

In this intersectional reconceptualization of US rape culture, Alisa Kessel reveals how sexual violence is a political act that preserves and emboldens the dominant sociopolitical order. The imperative to dominate through rape is unique among crimes against other people. While other violent crimes, such as assault or murder, can be committed out of a material need or desire for security, and may even have political motivations, theft and murder are not exclusively motivated by a desire to d...