Woman Abuse on Campus

The disturbing prevalence of campus sexual assault shatters any illusion that post-secondary schools anywhere in North America are sanctuaries from the real world. Through an accessible overview of the recent Canadian National Survey on Woman Abuse in Dating Relationships, authors Walter S. DeKeseredy and Martin D. Schwartz expose a "hidden campus curriculum" that exists to maintain gender inequalities. Sexist messages, both subtle and implicit, not only foster an atmosphere of fear and insecurity but also serve as a powerful means of social control. Providing a wake-up call to North American college campuses, Woman Abuse on Campus opens up the doors for change by examining the incidence and prevalence of woman abuse in courtship, the reaction against women′s use of self-defense, factors that increase the risk of dating abuse, and education and awareness programs that respond to the problem.

In order to influence policy changes, students, faculty, and administrators as well as other professionals will need to work together to inform not only themselves but others about the problem. As a tool to increase awareness and provide critical study findings, The Hidden Curriculum is an ideal supplementary text for courses in gender studies, criminology/criminal justice, sociology, social work, counseling/clinical psychology, family studies, education, and public health.