Vulnerability and Sexual Assault Law

The Inadequacy of the Autonomy-based Approach
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-032-01978-9
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 220 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 488 g

Reihe: Routledge Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice and Procedure

This book critiques the autonomy-based theoretical foundations of the legal response to sexual offences. To do so it examines the legal treatment of incapacitated rape victims arguing that the autonomous foundations have created a hierarchal response that forces individuals to be responsible for avoiding harm. The book uses vulnerability theory in two innovative ways. It challenges the foundations of the autonomous liberal legal subject in sexual offences, and it suggests a new sexual offence based on a vulnerability lens. Through this understanding of vulnerability, it argues that an autonomy-based approach is at the core of the inadequate response to sexual assault complainants. It therefore encourages readers to rethink what we know about what it means to be human, how we view sexual offences, and how we treat incapacitated complainants. The book blends theory and policy to offer new and holistic ways to rethink our response to sexual offences and challenges the formulation of the subjective nature of consent and sexual assault. The book will be of interest to researchers, academics and policymakers working in the areas of criminal justice, criminology, gender studies and social policy.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate

Autoren/Hrsg.

McCormack, Sorcha

Fachgebiete

• Rechtswissenschaften Recht, Rechtswissenschaft Allgemein Rechtsvergleichung
• Rechtswissenschaften Recht, Rechtswissenschaft Allgemein Rechtssoziologie, Rechtspsychologie, Rechtslinguistik
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Kriminalsoziologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Rechtssoziologie
• Rechtswissenschaften Strafrecht Kriminologie, Strafverfolgung

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction: Vulnerability and Sexual Assault Law: The Inadequacy of the Autonomy-based Approach 1. The Vulnerability Challenge 2. Intoxication and Consent: A Hierarchal Response? Is Autonomy the Problem? 3. Insights from the Treatment of Those with a ‘Mental Disorder’ 4. Alternative approaches 5. Radically Reforming the Law: Vulnerability and Penetration as a Prima Facie Wrong 6. Autonomy and Vulnerability: Potential Reform to the Legislation. Conclusion: Beyond the Law

Über Autor(innen)

Sorcha McCormack is Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Leeds, UK. As an academic and a qualified barrister, she uses feminist legal theory to critique criminal law. This monograph builds on her PhD thesis from Durham University.