Rape, incest, and child sexual abuse : consequences and recovery /

Gilmartin's purpose is to update the literatures on rape, incest, and child abuse, and to provide a basis for reexamination of major issues. Her synthesis clarifies recent trends in these literatures, addresses incidence and prevalence, and offers historical (victim-precipitated) and contemporary (structural forces) views concerning the causes of rape, incest, and child sexual abuse. Gilmartin describes the goal of recovery and details effective ways of facilitating it. Finally, she examines prevention and directions for future change. This book's contributions lie in its clarity of focus and language, coupled with sensitivity to the power of words to define the worldviews of researchers, victims, and survivors. The work is more hopeful in its outlook than some, e.g., Diana Russell's Sexual Exploitation (CH, Apr'85). Gilmartin writes from a feminist perspective but eschews the heart-wrenching case histories typical of this literature. The occasional tables are well constructed; endnotes, although limited, are well chosen. A jargon free and solid book. All levels. Y. Peterson; Saint Xavier University