A "Peculiar Offence": Legal, Popular, and Gendered Perceptions of Rape in the Early American Republic, 1790-1850

A "Peculiar Offence": Legal, Popular, and Gendered Perceptions of Rape in the Early American Republic, 1790-1850

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Koneval, Joni L.
Language:English
Published: Youngstown State University / OhioLINK 2012
Subjects:
American History
Gender
Gender Studies
History
Law
Legal Studies
Womens Studies
rape
early republic
united states
cultural perceptions
legal perceptions
gendered perceptions
sexual violence
fictional representations
rape cases
carnal knowledge
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1339013728
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-ysu13390137282021-08-03T06:18:11Z A "Peculiar Offence": Legal, Popular, and Gendered Perceptions of Rape in the Early American Republic, 1790-1850 Koneval, Joni L. American History Gender Gender Studies History Law Legal Studies Womens Studies rape early republic united states cultural perceptions legal perceptions gendered perceptions sexual violence fictional representations rape cases carnal knowledge <p>Rape was a constant topic in the Early Republic, whether in legal cases, factual newspaper articles, or fictional novels. This thesis examines the legal, popular, and gendered perceptions of rape in the Early American Republic (1790-1850) and demonstrates how the period's legal and social systems constantly influenced one another's conception of rape. Moving beyond the conclusions of previous scholars, this thesis argues that conflicting variationsof rape existed in the Early Republic and that rape in this historical context cannot be simply defined as the male population's exercise of patriarchal power over the female population.</p><p>Chapter one analyzes rape from a legal perspective and examines cases of rape and attempted rape and the laws and statutes that governed them. It argues that the prosecution of rape in the Early Republic was extraordinarily arbitrary and greatly influenced by the popular perception of rape and sexual behavior. Chapter two examines from a social and cultural perspective and analyzes popular representations and perceptions of rape and sex in novels and newspapers. It argues that the legal and popular perceptions of rape in the Early Republic were more heavily rooted in fiction than in fact, creating a rape narrative that permeated rapeprosecutions. Finally, chapter three addresses the role of gender and power in the legal and popular representations of rape in the Early Republic. It argues that in the process of being further victimized, Early Republic rape victims exercised agency through the legal and social systems' perceptions and expectations of them.</p> 2012-06-07 English text Youngstown State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1339013728 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1339013728 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic American History
Gender
Gender Studies
History
Law
Legal Studies
Womens Studies
rape
early republic
united states
cultural perceptions
legal perceptions
gendered perceptions
sexual violence
fictional representations
rape cases
carnal knowledge
spellingShingle American History
Gender
Gender Studies
History
Law
Legal Studies
Womens Studies
rape
early republic
united states
cultural perceptions
legal perceptions
gendered perceptions
sexual violence
fictional representations
rape cases
carnal knowledge
Koneval, Joni L.
A "Peculiar Offence": Legal, Popular, and Gendered Perceptions of Rape in the Early American Republic, 1790-1850
author Koneval, Joni L.
author_facet Koneval, Joni L.
author_sort Koneval, Joni L.
title A "Peculiar Offence": Legal, Popular, and Gendered Perceptions of Rape in the Early American Republic, 1790-1850
title_short A "Peculiar Offence": Legal, Popular, and Gendered Perceptions of Rape in the Early American Republic, 1790-1850
title_full A "Peculiar Offence": Legal, Popular, and Gendered Perceptions of Rape in the Early American Republic, 1790-1850
title_fullStr A "Peculiar Offence": Legal, Popular, and Gendered Perceptions of Rape in the Early American Republic, 1790-1850
title_full_unstemmed A "Peculiar Offence": Legal, Popular, and Gendered Perceptions of Rape in the Early American Republic, 1790-1850
title_sort "peculiar offence": legal, popular, and gendered perceptions of rape in the early american republic, 1790-1850
publisher Youngstown State University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2012
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1339013728
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