Cultural and legal accounts of rape
Abstract
The present paper attempts to show how rape is represented in a variety of historical and contemporary discourses. Examples of rapes in Greek mythology, in the Bible, in medieval iconography, in literature, and in scientific theories, are compared and contrasted. Analysis suggests that such discourses tend to make sexual aggression (and specifically the rape of women) legitimate, be it by minimizing the harm done; by normalizing and naturalizing sexual violence; or by aesthetisizing rape as art. Finally, the paper argues that putting modern legal accounts of rape into their historical perspective brings into sharper focus the persistence of ancient myths and discourses.Keywords
Relatos culturales, Legitimación violencia sexista, Códigos legales, Cultural accounts, Legitimation of sexist violence, Legal codesPublished
21-09-2008
How to Cite
Koulianou-Manolopoulou, P., & Fernández Villanueva, C. (2008). Cultural and legal accounts of rape. thenea igital. evista e ensamiento investigación ocial, (14), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/athenead/v0n14.470
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Copyright (c) 2008 Panagiota Koulianou-Manolopoulou, Concepción Fernández Villanueva
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