Mardi Wilson is an Adjunct Academic at Griffith University, Australia. Mardi works in the domestic violence sector supporting, advocating, and facilitating groups for people who experience domestic abuse perpetrated by men. Her research on men’s use of normalised sexual coercion has been published in The Journal of Sex Research. She co-hosts feminist podcast Sex and Consent.
How do understandings of consent contribute to unwanted sex in everyday encounters? In Everyday Coercion, the author draws on women’s lived experiences of unwanted sex to unpack the problem of sexual violence in our communities. These accounts are shared with the reader through narrative stories that exemplify both the subtle and overt tactics of pressure, coercion and force that all too frequently occur in women’s sexual encounters with men. The result is both an empathetic and expert analysis of the experiences of survivors, while identifying the critical need for a ‘culture of care’ in prevention education on sexual consent. * Anastasia Powell, RMIT University, Australia * When experiences of everyday sexual coercion happen so casually, so subtly and yet so frequently, they can be difficult for us to notice or name, especially when our attempts to do so are belittled, dismissed or disarmed. Everyday Coercion makes an important intervention into this hard-to-pinpoint form of sexual violence. Purposively using skilful storytelling, Wilson draws us in to a deeper, more intimate understanding of the nuances of sexual coercion and manipulation. Steeped in feminist research and theorising about sexual violence, Everyday Coercion offers an accessible yet comprehensive introduction for readers unfamiliar with this body of work, while taking up the challenge of de-normalising coercive practice. This can make it an uncomfortable and provocative read for those who may recognise themselves in the stories which weave through the book, or hear in the denials, evasion and manipulation the voices of men they too have encountered. Yet, this is the magic of this book – it gets under the skin, bypasses defences, and enables the reader to see manipulative and coercive practices laid bare. Wilson tackles this difficult, emotive, and sometimes stomach-churning content with care and compassion making the reader feel that they are in safe hands. * Hannah Frith, University of Surrey, UK * Dr Wilson centres the Everyday Coercion of women, girls and gender diverse people to dismantle the myths of ‘real rape’ and ‘rape as miscommunication’. A critical text capturing a grim reality of sexual coercion, validating the experience of victim-survivors. * Rachael Burgin, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia *