Elinor Mason: Date Rape, Harassment and Sexual Refusal

In this paper I examine and elaborate on one way in which women’s sexual refusal may be silenced. I build on Mary Kate McGowan’s suggestion, that women’s refusal is unsuccessful because they are seen to lack the relevant authority. I argue that it is possible that women do in fact lack the relevant authority, when we focus on the conventional nature of authority. I show that this is a useful way to understand harassment and date rape.