Drawing on a wide range of case studies, survey research, experiments, fieldwork, and action-oriented research from Europe, North America, and Asia, the author combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to understanding sexual violence. The book highlights negative consequences for rape victims of biased and prejudicial perceptions of sexual violence, including those of legal, medical, and helping professionals. The impact of these attitudes on victim self-perceptions is discussed, and strategies for changing ideas about sexual assault are offered. Such strategies include action-oriented research designed to raise consciousness and improve victim services. The book is divided into two major parts, the first of which examines empirical evidence on attitudes toward rape, feminist theory, rape research, and social-psychological investigations of attitudes toward and perceptions of sexual assault victims. The second part of the book focuses on applied aspects of psychological and feminist research. Notes, tables, and figures