Credible

June 21, 2021
Northwestern law professor Tuerkheimer debuts with a persuasive analysis of the cultural and legal forces that “downgrade the credibility” of sexual abuse survivors. Noting that women from marginalized communities are the least likely to be believed, Tuerkheimer describes how the “credibility complex” shields the accused by pitting the stereotype of the “perfect victim” (one who fights back, shows emotional distress, and severs ties with her attacker) against that of the “monster abuser” (a “deviant” who “violat all potential victims in his path”). Tuerkheimer also explains how doubt is “baked into law” through the “insistence on prompt complaint,” expectation of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and presumption of innocence, which creates a “care gap” that places more weight on the abuser’s suffering than the accuser’s. Spotlighting incidents of sexual assault in doctors’ offices and on college campuses and military bases, Tuerkeimer delves into the phenomena of “slut-shaming” and gaslighting, and explains the psychological impact of trauma. She also unearths startling statistics (by some estimates, 65% of Black girls experience sexual abuse before age 14) and sheds light on high-profile cases against Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, and others. Packed with insight and empathy, this is an open-and-shut case for a more compassionate form of justice. Agent: Jennifer Gates, Aevitas Creative.

Starred review from September 1, 2021

Tuerkheimer (Pritzker Sch. of Law, Northwestern Univ.) paints an enlightening and deeply disturbing portrait of how bias affects the way society views the victims of sexual assault or abuse and the alleged perpetrators. She uses case studies (including Larry Nasser, R. Kelly, and Harvey Weinstein), firsthand accounts, and American criminal law to prove that factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, education level, financial status, and employment affect whether an accuser is believed and an alleged abuser is penalized. Tuerkheimer argues that, paradoxically, mass media is now saturated with examples of rape and abuse, while people who make allegations of assault are still held to unreasonable standards; for instance, cases of rape by a stranger are often given more credibility than the sexual assault cases that are most common, where the accuser knows the alleged perpetrator. Tuerkheimer says that credibility is itself a form of power that often adds to victims' trauma when authorities dismiss, ignore, or outright deny their claims. VERDICT With recently overturned sexual misconduct convictions like Bill Cosby's in the news, this is a relevant and significant study that will leave readers reeling but also hopeful that this knowledge can be used to prevent assault and abuse.--Alana Quarles, Fairfax Cty. P.L., Alexandria, VA

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2021
A legal scholar grapples with the ways in which race, class, and gender affect a sexual assault victim's credibility--and their ability to access justice. Credibility--or the tendency to be believed--is a form of power meted out entirely unfairly. So argues Tuerkheimer, who coins the phrase "credibility complex," which she defines as "a cluster of forces" that lead us to believe some individuals over others. She argues that culture and the law intertwine to give women "credibility discounts" and men credibility "inflation." Socially ingrained discounts not only make it harder for women to win abuse cases in courts of law; it also makes them doubt their own credibility, leading to a nationwide hesitation to file claims. "At its most covert," writes the author, "the credibility complex leads victims to elevate the perspectives and interests of their abuser above their own." This means that victims, and others involved in the process, often give abusers "the benefit of the doubt." The tendency to doubt women is particularly hard on women of color--especially Black women--and women who identify as working class. Tuerkheimer cogently argues that until we examine and address these deep-seated biases, our society will ensure that we never treat sexual assault survivors with the gravity and care they deserve. The book's analysis is both layered and nuanced, and the language is precise, passionate, and clear. While the author provides detailed explorations of the effects of race and class on sexual assault claims, she offers little acknowledgment of the impacts of disability or queerness on credibility. Particularly glaring is the absence of examples involving trans women, who suffer much higher rates of sexual assault and violence than their cisgendered peers. Still, this book is an important addition to an ongoing conversation. A trenchant analysis of how flawed notions about credibility fuel a wide variety of societal inequalities.

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Starred review from August 1, 2021
Tuerkheimer, a Northwestern law professor, centers survivors in this powerful call for ending the harmful status quo surrounding sexual abuse allegations. Working to undermine each claim of abuse, and each victim, is what Tuerkheimer calls the credibility complex. This system metes out credibility boosts to the most powerful members of society (mostly men, mostly white, and in positions of authority) and gives credibility discounts to society's most vulnerable (mostly women, Black women and women of color, immigrant women, Native women, and women in low-wage occupations). She uses survivor testimony, well-documented research studies, and a trove of experts to discuss the cultural myths informing society's beliefs about how victims should behave and react to abuse, including the stranger rape paradigm and the "perfect victim" and "monster abuser" archetypes. She further explains how these damaging myths shape current laws, including statutes of limitations, "lack of force" exemptions, and "damaged goods" reasoning, all of which shift blame to the accuser and make conviction nearly impossible. Harrowing survivor stories and the lack of easy solutions make Credible a difficult but necessary read urging individuals to start changing the way they think about allegations of abuse and the women who make them. Essential for public libraries.

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