Summary
Contents
Subject index
In an age of sports hero idolatry, it is essential to understand the relationship between male athletes and violence against women. Reports of well-known athletes, both professional and intercollegiate, who have been charged with crimes involving violence against women are prevalent in the media. Are these athletes more likely to gain the spotlight because of their status as star athletes? Or do their lifestyles make athletes more likely to engage in sexual assault, battering, or other forms of violence against women than nonathletes? Athletes and Acquaintance Rape unravels the controversy of this topic by focusing on three high-profile cases involving professional athletes who have been charged with sexual assault. Jeffrey R. Benedict provides a brief history on each athlete and traces the chronology of events leading up to the charges of sexual assault and the results of those charges. By examining specific aspects of the collegiate and professional athleteæs life, Benedict reveals a climate predisposed to committing violence against women that provides star athletes with protection from punishment and conviction. Intriguing and thought-provoking, Athletes and Acquaintance Rape will prove useful for academics, practitioners, and students in several fields, including sociology, psychology, gender studies, law, sport management, educational administration, violence against women, and family violence. Written in an engaging style, the general reader will also find this book accessible and enlightening.
Introduction
Introduction
The lion's share of rape complaints against athletes comes from victims who are socially acquainted with their perpetrator. Under these circumstances, as is the case in any complaint of acquaintance rape, proof beyond a reasonable doubt is difficult to establish. There are seldom any witnesses; physical evidence is usually sparse; and the cases are reduced to a he-said-she-said contest. But there are additional obstacles to a successful prosecution when the alleged perpetrator is a renowned athlete.
Ironically, athletes’ increasingly deviant sexual habits are one of the most influential factors in insulating them from legal consequences when women accuse them of rape. Sexual indulgence has become a trademark of modern-day popular athletes. An increasing number of athletes publicly boast of rampant sexual promiscuity by themselves and ...
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