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Unaware before taking this class of reality, I too, like the majority of society, was influenced by the misconception that rape was a stereotypical image. I have come to find through taking this class that the majority of rape and physical assaults are experienced by females from a male perpetrator who is an intimate partner, including spouses, boyfriends, or dates. When searching ways in which the violence against women has been an issue under which proactive means have been taken toward awareness or even a solution, I came across the website for the Bahamas Crisis Center. This page offers a direct introduction to the issue with the poster that states, "When we got married, I promised to love, honour and obey him and he promised the same to me. I gave him my love, respect and my heart, but last night he betrayed that love and broke my heart. He RAPED me." This page seeks to directly address marital rape as an eminent threat to the well-being of women and the society at large by taking a problem that ordinarily occurs within the home and places it in people's faces. The video "Silent Pain" is a collage of images, words, songs, and interviews. It begins with a description of the emotions felt by women whom are betrayed and raped by their husbands. When asked if they were aware of what marital rape was, those interviewed replied "no" and of those who were female, they remarked that it is indeed, unacceptable while the males depicted it as "a condoned act of marriage". Fortunately, the video also attempted to show how the issue has become increasingly apparent in the media to raise social acknowledgment. The video ends with a detailed personal account of a woman who was raped by her husband. I believe this is a positive step toward making a private issue a public one that needs to urgently be addressed.

This was an amazingly difficult video for me to watch. The explicit images from films, reenactments, etc. were incredibly jarring. However, I think that this was a good thing because it really sent the message through to me, even more so than the readings we have been doing in this course, especially those from last week. I think it is great that you found this. Is this also implemented in the US or only in the UK? This might be something really good to place within the symposium!

Projansky, Sarah. Autumn, 2001. "The Elusive/Ubiquitous Representation of Rape: A Historical Survey of Rape in U.S. Film, 1903 - 1972. Cinema Journal 41: 63 - 90. This article was a wonderful article for me to begin my research with because it led me into many of the topics I wish to discuss within my research paper. In fact, the article was a main instigator in my changing my research topic solely to film and its relation to rape, rather than film and pornography and their relation to rape. This article argues "that rape is a central theme in American cinema… [That] not a year has gone by since the beginning of cinema when rape, attempted rape, or other forms of sexual violence were not represented or alluded to in films" (63). Many of the topics that surface throughout this article will be key in explaining my own film selections and how they promote patriarchic ideals, the submission of women, and the desensitization of rape that film presents historically and globally to its viewers. Topics I will touch upon include Production Code regulations (from the beginning of film to present), rape in relation to women's vulnerability, independence and the family, rape in relation to economic and social class ambivalence, and finally, rape in relation to race. All these subtopics arise in differing aspects of each film I have chosen to consider in relation to my research topic. Overall, this article is the perfect push I needed to get my research started, and it will continue to be valuable as the holder of the bedrock ideas and topics I wish to present within my paper.

"Encyclopedia of Rape. ed. Merril D. Smith. 2004. :xxvii,-301 p. This book, and specifically pages 97 and 98, explain how HIV/AIDS is transmitted through rape. Although this is a short piece, just two pages, they are very important as they are from an encyclopedia that focuses on rape, and can give a very strong explanation of the general ways that HIV/AIDS is transmitted through rape. The explanation also talks about how it is not just women who are infected with HIV from rape, but the paper will focus on how women are affected by HIV from rape.

Men Can Stop Rape is an organization dedicated toward mobilizing the male youth to speak out against violence against women. The website advocates males to come together and work alongside women in order to promote healthy relationships and gender equality. Men Can Stop Rape provides a variety of solutions for men and ways to become involved such as through attending events, trainings, and presentations.

This is a great website because its main focus is to educate men and prevent violence against women. I found the "Strength campaign" to be very interesting because it is a campaign that can be implemented within many organizations. As I was reading through their campaign adds I noticed how they used the phrase, "Our Strength is Not for Hurting" which is used to show men that strength those not mean violence.

I'm an absolute advocate for men to speak out against violence towards women. I believe it is critical that men become allies for this cause because essentially men can influence male culture more than women can. If men begin to condemn violence towards women than the passive notion amongst men can change to one of proactive means. Men are also influential for younger males and may often be mimicked by these younger males, so if you practice what you preach it can really make a difference.

The Accused, 1988, Jonathan Kaplan, dir. I am using this film to illustrate the use of rape and its consequences as depicted in film. This film is unique as it shows rape in a non-normative light, differing from how rape is typically depicted within film. Rather than from the perspective majorly of men, this film shows rape through the eyes of the victim and the defender, both women. However, ultimately (as Projansky predicts), it is a man who (in all honesty unrealistically) "saves the day," and the honor of the victim (played by Jodi Foster). While this film is innovative in its brutal truth about rape and all that it entails (physical harm, emotional/mental harm, economic harm, and the difficulty of court trials), it is also in a sense, a fairy tale for raped women - certain aspects of the film, such as the conclusion, depict a more optimistic world. Still, this film has many positive qualities in exhibiting topics in relation to rape, such as the instilled patriarchic views within court and government systems, and among fraternities of men. I would not say that this film desensitizes rape, but rather that it magnifies the horrors of rape; however, this perception could differ between men and women. These are some of the topics I will explore of rape and its consequences as portrayed through this film and its relation to viewers and what they do with such images and information.

This article is about the different perspectives in a rape case in this college and how it was addressed. Was this way of dealing with rape just and exemplary or not ?

I think whether or not this case of rape was exemplary or not can be argued both ways. Since Melandy waited to report the rape, did not have a rape kit, witnesses or any other evidence, the ruling was based on her statement and the PS officer's investigation. I think because the college hearing board listened to Melandy as a victim and took into account the fear and distress she experienced they were more concerned about her rights as a victimized woman. By not convicting Jordan, the hearing board would have sent a message that justice is not served and women will remain the victims, normalizing rape on the campus. If society becomes more intolerant with violence against women in the form of rape and sensitive to women's rights, I think more women will come forward and report rape.

Enloe, Cynthia. 2004. "Maneuvers: The International Politics of Militarizing Women's Lives" The University of California Press. "Maneuvers: The International Politics of Militarizing Women's Lives" by Cynthia Enloe discusses the the extent to which states' militaries have relied on women in order to conduct unethical military operations like war rape and sustain a political legitimacy. In particular I will be using the chapters, "The Laundress, The Soldier, and the State" which discusses the beginning acts of political violence against women, in particular the concept of camp following and the chapter "When Soldiers Rape" which contains a literal discussion of soldiers use of rape as a weapon of war. These articles will help enhance my understanding of the political acts of violence against women, how they started, escalated, and how the military gets away with them.

This is a video regarding rape as a weapon of war from the voice of a Sudan soldier. This is extremely helpful because it verifies the rape that is going on in Sudan and allows me to gain the perspective of a soldier. He claims that he didn't want to do it and was forced or he would be killed. This video gives me a little more insight into who is commanding the war rape and how the soldiers actually feel about doing it. Here, structural violence is seen through the eyes of the perpetrator.

Kim, Julia C., Lorna J. Martin and Lynette Denny. 2003. "Rape and HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis: Addressing the Dual Epidemics in South Africa." Reproductive Health Matters 11(22, HIV/AIDS, Sexual and Reproductive Health: Intimately Related):101-112. This article is very important for my paper because it looks at the way that the South African government deals with post-exposure prophylaxis. This is important for this paper because it looks at one way that rape and HIV are linked. The link between rape and HIV, especially in South Africa is key to the paper because it constitutes a major risk of rape, especially in South Africa. Additionally, it argues that there is a very strong link between sexual violence against women and the spread of HIV.

Desai, Sapna. 2005. "HIV and Domestic Violence: Intersections in the Lives of Married Women in India." Health and Human Rights 8(2, Emerging Issues in HIV/AIDS):140-168. This article is important because it looks at another culture, where HIV/AIDS is spread through marital rape. This is important because acquaintance rape, and rape by random people are not the only types there are, but they are frequently the only ones that are talked about. This article explores how women have no control over their sexuality and bodies, and are forced into sex with their husbands, thus leading them to contract HIV. This will help to add an angle to the paper on marital rape.

Horeck, Tanya. 2004. Public Rape: Representing Violation in Fiction and Film. New York, New York: Routledge. This is important for all the above reasons listed in source 11, however this book is not as expansive in information as Projansky's book. Still, this book is more advantageous in supplying me with more information about the film The Accused, relating an entire section to this subject. The first part (of three) deals with the ideas of fantasy and origin stories of rape. This chapter deals precisely with the issue of where one can draw the line between fantasy and reality - key to my research paper. This book is very interesting in its dealing with this topic. It is one of the first to actually mention how exactly all this perhaps originated. Again, this book will be very useful as a grounding reference to my paper with its broad yet concise discussion of rape in film.

This is about a recent victory in South Africa regarding hate speech and rape. It is important to our course because rape is a major problem in violence against women. By taking action against offenders, in a country where rape is very big problem, the South African government is taking a stand and helping to change the future of violence against women.

This article draws a parallel to the questions/ workshop based on femicide in class. When discussing effective ways to raise awareness and stop the violence, the government seemed a major resource in doing so. I found it very interesting and surprising that the South African government is taking hate speech and rape seriously and being proactive in making sure this violence stops and perpetrators are punished. By getting the government involved in gender equality and violence, can allow change within society among men and women. In particular men can be educated in how to support women's rights and gender equalities, and also create new standards or systems of gender roles to advance gender equality.

This article is useful to the development of my research because of its currency and differentiation from the books I have already bookmarked. This article's highlights are: women and girls as young as four are raped on a daily basis, 100 percent of women in camps are reported as facing gender-based abuse, and the Sudanese government dismissing or denying rape as violence in Darfur. This article will help me look at the issue from a different standpoint as the books I am using come from the voice of anthropologists where this is the voice of a new reporter--something much different and more literal or scientific. Here, the reference to culture is taken out and we are able to look at the issue objectively.

This article is a great example of the articles we read in Transforming a Rape Culture. It evidences author Nan Stein's argument that "schools may in fact be the training grounds for domestic violence: Girls learn that they are on their own, that the adults and others around them will not believe or help them when they report sexual harassment or assault. The harassers find that their conduct is treated with impunity, sometimes even glorified." (Transforming a Rape Culture) I think this article is important because it shows a real life example that can not be swept under the rug. Because bullying and sexual harassment were taken to such an extreme level and resulted in suicide, the issue has to be dealt with outside of the school's gates. In fact, this may act as a jump start for reform in Massachusetts school systems.

This story is terribly sickening. I remember the first time I heard it on the news, I was appalled. While I am sad to say I wasn't completely shocked that kids can be so mean, I am surprised that no one intervened before it got so out of control. Also, it is interesting that the incident of statutory rape is just briefly mentioned. To agree with Morgan, this goes to show how their conduct was indeed treated with impunity, while her death has been overly sensationalized.

Projansky, Sarah. 1995. Watching Rape: Film and Television in Postfeminist Culture. New York: New York University Press. This book is very useful in further legitimizing and supporting many of the points I wish to make throughout this paper. What I found valuable and helpful was the film index in the back of the book. I can easily find most of what I need from this film index, and this book discusses two of the likely three films that I will use throughout this paper. This book is also important in my research because it discusses the often neglected issue of race, specifically that of black women, in film rape. This will be key in my critique of the usage or neglect of race within the film Showgirls. Also, this book does a thorough job in explaining key terms in relation to my paper (such as postfeminism), therefore I better understand and can look at much more within each film. Overall, this is the perfect book to turn to for most any question I could have in relation to my paper.

Johnny Belinda, 1948, John Negulesco, dir. This film is key to my research mostly in part to its date. Many people believe that rape has only recently been shown explicitly in more recent films, however this is a film that invalidates this thought. While Gone with the Wind does deal with rape in film, it does not explicitly mention or show the rape; Johnny Belinda, on the other hand, overtly deals with rape and its repercussions. Also helpful in this movie selection is the ample discourse found in relation to it, from Sarah Projansky. It deals with many topics the other films deal with, but also has differing aspects to consider, in relation to rape in film, such as the consequences of rape and how one copes with them. While it is important to, in a sense, keep a period eye when watching this film, the film too has many still valid points, which I am interested to further develop and question while writing this paper.

Gone with the Wind, 1939, Victor Fleming, dir. Dox, Donnalee. 1996. "Constructions of Rape: Two American Musicals." Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, 17: 210-238. Retrieved April 12 2010. (http://www.jstor.org/stable.3346888). I felt it was important that I use Gone with the Wind in my paper, as it is one of the most highly cited films in relation to my topic (rape in film). The most cited aspect of the film is found within the scene in which Rhett Butler carries an angry and reluctant Scarlett O'Hara up the expansive staircase to her bedroom. The next scene the audience is shown is Scarlett awakening the morning after, seemingly happy. Many critics take issue with these scenes as they seem to promote the ideal that no means yes. Donnalee Dox touches on this idea in the opening to her article, "Constructions of Rape…" Dox mentions others, such as Tom Kuntz and Christina Hoff Sommers, who also debate over the subliminal messages found within these specific clips from the film. Dox notes the taboos in addressing this film as "many women continue to enjoy the sight of Rhett Butler carrying Scarlett O'Hara up the stairs in a fate undreamt of in feminist philosophy." If many women still enjoy this scene, it makes it difficult for other (perhaps more feministic) women to condemn this scene as a bad representation of rape and women. This article is helpful in addressing the multiple perspectives on reading rape in film, and will be useful in challenging my own thoughts regarding rape and film.

Two sources here... but I assumed the JSTOR would be more important to add as the URL.

McDonnell, Karen A., Andrea C. Gielen, Patricia O'Campo and Jessica G. Burke. 2005. "Abuse, HIV Status and Health-Related Quality of Life among a Sample of HIV Positive and HIV Negative Low Income Women." Quality of Life Research 14(4):945-957. This article is important because it looks at how a person's quality of life is affected by HIV and intimate partner violence. This helps to address the question of my paper (how rape and HIV status are related) in that it looks at how rape and HIV can affect a woman's quality of life. The quality of life argument is very important because it will add a more personal, and less academic look at HIV and IPV. This will add a perspective to my paper that an article merely focusing on the spread of HIV through rape cannot.

This article is very important to our class because it is directly related to the reading we did on the Bosnia rapes. The article explains how almost 20 years later, the women who were raped are still struggling with everyday life. Additionally, justice has still not been found for many of the women and men who were raped. Taking steps in this direction would be a good response to violence against women.

Active for Ending Rape is an organization that works with students to get organized and make a change within their own college community. Focusing on ending sexual violence, SAFER encourages kids to know their school's policy when it comes to such violence on their campus. Through policy changes, the organization hopes that university campuses will be a safer place for all. The website offers on-campus training as well as other free resources students can use to get going. With a list of other schools who have started using the program as well as specific student video stories, SAFER gives students the tools they need to get started.

This is a great webpage. One of my articles was on how one rape case in Holly Cross was poorly addressed. The importance of clear and fair procedures in college campuses mark a difference in prevention and in especially addressing the cases. I think that an organization such as SAFER ism important because it gives tools to empower students to end the inustice. It is a very positive article ! Thank you Kat.

Being a student on a College campus, I could not think of a better website to correlate everyday reality to this course. Also, this site seems appropriate to coincide with the Symposium, "Breaking the Silence", as it asks college students nation-wide to take a proactive role in sculpting the future of their College's sexual assault policies. It is important to note that on the Wheaton campus, we maintain and encourage a "don't ask, don't tell" type of policy where the discussion or realization of sexual assault on the campus is seemingly unheard of. This site encourages its viewers to be open-minded and encourage others to discuss the current campus policies and acknowledge that assault and rape do in fact, occur on college campuses nation-wide despite their lack of publicity.