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heykellyjensen's review
An excellent, well-written, and well-researched book about the intersections of rape culture and college football. Luther is a sports fan, and her work focuses not on condemning the sport nor fans, but rather, it raises questions about why and how so many sexual assault cases in college football go the way they do -- that is, the athletes who are accused continue to be able to play the sport while the victims continue to be diminished and harmed.
After looking at how things work (or rather, don't work) now, Luther then proposes possible solutions for this culture and ends the book with what drew her to write the book in the first place. When you care about an issue deeply and the entertainment you love doesn't, how do you rectify the disconnects?
After looking at how things work (or rather, don't work) now, Luther then proposes possible solutions for this culture and ends the book with what drew her to write the book in the first place. When you care about an issue deeply and the entertainment you love doesn't, how do you rectify the disconnects?
bwileymore's review against another edition
4.0
This book is so Informative and really opens your eyes to an ever present issue. I never fully comprehended how toxic football culture is especially when it comes to rape. It is a hard read to go through especially if this is a triggering topic, but if you can get through it I highly recommend.
jeter21's review against another edition
4.0
Reading a book about rape culture and how it has manifested itself within the realm of society and college sports doesn’t make for an “enjoyable” time. Luckily in the capable hands of Jessica Luther, Unsportsmanlike Conduct: College Football and the Politics of Rape, this is and cultural problem has been molded and shaped into something that reads like an essential text, forcing us to reckon with the pain and use it as a baseline for developing solutions.
More than just for sports fans or those in college, this is a book that dismantles many of the issues in society that have led to college football becoming the perfect microcosm of rape culture. What I think keeps this book humming along, even as you are being shown example after example of repugnant behavior and lack of accountability, is that Luther is unafraid of this depth. This in turn, allows the book to be accessible for those who don’t follow college sports who know about rape culture, those of us who follow sports religiously and maybe didn’t understand, and the regular lay person.
Most of the populace understands rape and issues of consent are a problem and given what has happened at Baylor, and to some extent the Nate Parker case, is something that needs to be addressed swiftly and with care. Luther outlines many ways to help clean up these issues and in her due diligence leaves readers, and colleges, with the tools to make it happen.
More than just for sports fans or those in college, this is a book that dismantles many of the issues in society that have led to college football becoming the perfect microcosm of rape culture. What I think keeps this book humming along, even as you are being shown example after example of repugnant behavior and lack of accountability, is that Luther is unafraid of this depth. This in turn, allows the book to be accessible for those who don’t follow college sports who know about rape culture, those of us who follow sports religiously and maybe didn’t understand, and the regular lay person.
Most of the populace understands rape and issues of consent are a problem and given what has happened at Baylor, and to some extent the Nate Parker case, is something that needs to be addressed swiftly and with care. Luther outlines many ways to help clean up these issues and in her due diligence leaves readers, and colleges, with the tools to make it happen.
samkraft's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. It focused in on Jameis Winston, who played football at FSU as a quarterback. A young female came forward saying how Winston rape and sexually assaulted her at a party and they have found clear evidence that he did. YET, obviously they didn't do anything about it/ got a way with it because currently, he PLAYS in the NFL as a quarterback. It is very frustrating reading this and seeing where he is now. The last part of the book talks about ways the NCAA, teams, coaches, and men in general, can stop rape from happening. Definitely recommend.
hedytf's review against another edition
5.0
This was a really good book. I liked how it addressed possible solutions to the problem, and also discussed systemic issues within the NCAA.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Luther looks at college rape in terms of football players being charged. She addresses all aspects of the issue - including the issue of race as well as how the media reports on such things. Engrossing, easy read.
combledore's review against another edition
3.0
Good and definitely important, but not what I was expecting. This is sort of like a collected series of articles - like a big New York Times series on some societal problem that's been collected into a book. Not bad at all, but I was expecting something more investigative, maybe with interviews, more like the author's amazing story for Texas Monthly that's mentioned in this book. Instead, it's a long survey of the problem and a shorter section of recommendations. There's clearly a ton of research that's been done here, and Luther clearly knows the topic well, but it doesn't seem like a lot of interviews were done with people actually involved in college football. I wish there had been more of that, just to get the perspective on the ground along with the great content in here. I'd still definitely recommend this book - while it wasn't what I thought it would be, it's still crucial information that we all should be aware of.
(Read Harder 2017: #1 Read a book about sports.)
(Read Harder 2017: #1 Read a book about sports.)
krafsa01's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. It focused in on Jameis Winston, who played football at FSU as a quarterback. A young female came forward saying how Winston rape and sexually assaulted her at a party and they have found clear evidence that he did. YET, obviously they didn't do anything about it/ got a way with it because currently, he PLAYS in the NFL as a quarterback. It is very frustrating reading this and seeing where he is now. The last part of the book talks about ways the NCAA, teams, coaches, and men in general, can stop rape from happening. Definitely recommend.
alisonrose711's review
5.0
This book is so very important, and I'm really glad it was Jessica Luther who wrote it. Her research is thorough and meticulous, she carefully applies an intersectional lens, and she speaks from the point of view of both a sports fan and a compassionate social justice activist who never wants us to forget to center the victims in sexual assault cases. She shows wisdom and empathy on all points, and offers some very smart and very feasible changes that colleges, sports organizations, and the media can and should adopt in order to try to lessen and hopefully eradicate sexual violence in this arena.