Rape, Racism, And The Law Summary

Jennifer Wriggins analyzes the significance how race, ethnicity, and class influence a woman's vulnerability to rape, the meaning and impact of the rape, and the response of family, of community, and of social institutions. Her article, "Rape, Racism, and the Law," specifically focuses on the history of rape in the United States between the rapes of White women by Black men. As a feminist, she specifically focuses on two very damaging consequences of this selective blindness: the denials that Black women are raped; and all women are subject to pervasive and harmful sexual coercion of all kinds. Thorough this powerful essay, she examine the legal system's treatment of rape and how racism plays a major part in denying the rights of African Americans, as well as, deny the veracity of women's sexual subordination by creating a social meaning of rape which implies that the only type of sexual abuse is "illegal rape" and the only form of illegal rape is Black offender/White victim.

I was exasperated after reading this article. This article highly irritated and annoyed me because of the interconnectedness of rape and racism. As a woman, it is hard not to get heated
By exploring the interconnectedness of rape and racism, I learned to analyze the assumptions implanted in and surrounding rape, racism, and social institutions. Finally, it develops understanding of the narrow focus of the black offender and the white rape victim, and the denial of the rape of black women, which engages within the cultural assumption of American society that is important to understand in the field of social work. This reading also teaches up to be receptive social work professionals able to work respectfully and competently with diverse population groups, with at the same time to understand and develop a sensitivity and respect for human