As a child and adolescent psychiatrist who also works with people across the life-span, including transitional-aged youth and adults, I found Sexual Citizens: Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus very impacting. It offers a thoughtful perspective on the underlying contributors to campus sexual assault. The authors take a public health approach that goes beyond individual pathology or predatory behaviors to examine the relationships and interactions between individuals, communities, and their environments, which can increase the risk for sexual violence.
Their conceptual framework of sexual projects (the reasons people seek particular sexual interactions), sexual citizenship (the right to sexual self-determination for oneself and recognition of this right in others), and sexual geographies (the spaces and contexts shaping sexual interactions), provides insight into the societal forces shaping young people's sexual motivations and capacities to navigate consent and conscientious relationships.
Many discussions on sexual violence center on male-female, heterosexual relationships. However, the authors stress that we need to broaden our view to include factors like race, class, sexual identity, location, and other aspects of, and factors leading to, inequality and power. Their arguments are convincing.
Their examples show that LGBTQIA+ students, in particular, face changing power dynamics and increased vulnerabilities. This perspective moves us beyond fear and simplistic messages about consent. Instead, it directs us toward understanding the social conditions that hinder young people's development of fulfilling and healthy relationships.
I appreciate the authors' emphasis on encouraging empathy and hope in the face of these complex challenges. I recommend this thoughtful and compassionate book to fellow mental health professionals seeking a comprehensive understanding of the community structure contributing to sexual harm. We can play a role in both healing individuals and guiding our society in a more caring and just direction.
The book, Sexual Citizens: Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus by Jennifer S. Hirsch and Shamus Khan, can be found on Amazon and elsewhere: https://www.amazon.com/Sexual-Citizens-Landmark-Assault-Campus/dp/1324001704.
If you are interested in learning more about this perspective and want to join in the efforts, the author's website is here: https://www.sexualcitizens.com/
For local resources, including a helpline and survivor resources, contact the RCC: Sexual Violence Resource Center (formerly the Rape Crisis Center) here: https://www.thercc.org/
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