Rape
E. Jean Carroll, Donald Trump, and the Indelible Memory of Assault
Research suggests that victims like E. Jean Carroll tend to remember their assaults vividly. I know because I'm one of them.
What Does Being a Man's 'Type' Have to Do With Harassment and Rape?
President Donald Trump recently defended himself against an accusation of rape by saying the accuser wasn't his type. How much does attraction play into sexual harassment and assault?
Reproductive Rights Laws Remain Stringent Across South America
According to one study, 97 percent of women of reproductive age in Latin America live in countries with restrictive abortion laws.
How Liam Neeson's Comments Reflect the Black Rapist Myth
The racist thoughts that the actor admitted to align with long-running stereotypes.
What the Research Says About (the Very Rare Phenomenon of) False Sexual Assault Allegations
Pacific Standard looks at the evidence about people who make false accusations of rape, and how to get the best information during sexual assault cases.
A Minnesota Police Department Paves the Way for Eliminating Rape Kit Backlogs
A small town in northern Minnesota is paving the way for police departments in their efforts to process and mitigate huge backlogs of untested rape kits.
How Do We Take Down Rape Culture? Telling Stories Is Just the Beginning.
Considering a new anthology of stories about rape culture—and two other anthologies about how to end it.
How the Women of South Sudan Are Speaking Out About Mass Rape
In South Sudan's civil war, rape is wielded as a weapon. Despite dangerous stigma, some South Sudanese women are speaking out.
Doctor and Advocate: One Surgeon's Global Fight for the Rights of Rape Survivors
Dr. Denis Mukwege has become a pioneer in both gynecological surgery and bringing global awareness to the issue of how rape is used as a weapon of war.
House Passes Bill Criminalizing Abortions After 20 Weeks
The law, known as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, includes exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or risk to the mother's life.
The Pink Ghetto of Women’s Issues in Mexico: From Rape Whistles to Subway Cars
The Mexican government says it’s taking steps to protect women from sexual violence in public. Why aren’t they working?
Poland Doubles Down on Its Decision Not to Extradite Roman Polanski
The Chinatown director has, yet again, found refuge in a European country—despite the ascendant right-wing government’s brief show of judicial muscle.
Most Rape Allegations Are Not False
Research shows only a small number of rape allegations are actually false, so why are the police so hard to convince otherwise?
What Happens When You Tell Siri You're Depressed?
A look at whether smartphone assistants know to recognize and respond when their owners are in acute distress.
Was It Rape?
The only way past the victim-blaming and conspiracy theories is a proper lexicon for talking about rape. But competing definitions encourage skepticism—and silence.
A Sociologist Weighs in on Sex Work and James Deen
Pacific Standard sits down to talk with Chauntelle Tibbals.
Sexual Assault Against Servicemen Is Worse Than We Thought
A new report highlights the troubling reality of sexual assault for men in the military.
'Law & Order' and Myths Regarding Rape
New research finds the long-running series conveys healthy messages regarding sexual consent. CSI, not so much.
The FBI Built a Database That Can Catch Serial Rapists—and Almost Nobody Uses It
For roughly 30 years the FBI has virtually ignored a system meant to help cops track the behavioral patterns of violent criminals.
Americans' Slightly Shifting Attitudes About Rape Victims
The proportion of young American adults who hold untrue and harmful beliefs about rape victims has declined since the 1970s, but not by as much as you might think.
The Long History of the Rhetoric Around Rape and Race
Whether it's the KKK's plans to protest the removal of the Confederate flag or Donald Trump's controversial commentary on Latino men, professor and critic Salamishah Tillet writes we should pay more attention to how little the rhetoric around rape has changed.
Sexual Chaos! The New Debauchery! Reactionary Professors Discuss Rape
They say it's about “values.” That's a very easy way of skirting the question.
Female College Freshmen at High Risk of Rape
A new study finds 18 percent reported suffering a rape or rape attempt during their first 12 months at a major university.
The Human Cost of Keystone XL
In North Dakota’s oil boomtowns, rape, sex trafficking, and domestic violence rates are spiking, with American Indian women suffering the most. Now tribes along the Keystone XL pipeline route worry that the violence could be headed their way—and tribal police may be unable to stop it.