'Rough Sex' and the Criminal Law: Global Perspectives

The book "Rough Sex: A Feminist Investigation" explores the rough sex defense and responds to debates around sex and the law, focusing on the female experience, the BDSM community, pornography, violence against women, and problematic perceptions of BDSM.

Format: Hardback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 07 November 2022
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited

In recent years, rough sex has garnered significant attention within the realm of criminal law, particularly in the aftermath of high-profile murders of women who were allegedly killed during consensual sex encounters that purportedly turned abusive. This tragic series of events has sparked widespread calls for reform aimed at preventing the use of what has been labeled as the "rough sex defense." Situated within a global context where violence against women remains a leading preventable cause of death and illness among women aged 18 to 44 worldwide, this timely collection of essays examines the rough sex defense and engages with broader debates surrounding sex and the law.

Drawing from a diverse array of empirical and theoretical perspectives, the chapters in this collection delve into a wide range of topics, including the experiences of women who encounter unwanted slapping, choking, and spitting during sexual encounters, the BDSM community, the effects of pornography, the normalization and sexualization of violence against women, early depictions of BDSM that eroticize non-consensual relations, problematic perceptions of BDSM as inherently violent, and more. Bows and Herring skillfully compile a comprehensive mix of viewpoints to contribute to a robust feminist investigation of this critical issue. This book is an engaging read for scholars interested in exploring the intersections of sex, law, and the criminal justice system.

Weight: 438g
Dimension: 160 x 238 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781801179294