Susan Brownmiller, ‘Against Our Will’ Author, Dies at 90
- Susan Brownmiller, the author whose groundbreaking 1975 book, Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape, redefined the conversation around sexual violence, has died.
- Susan Brownmiller's Against Our Will explored the history of rape and challenged the notion of victim-blaming.
- Against Our Will became a bestseller, offering a broad audience the first extensive examination of sexual assault.
Susan Brownmiller, author of teh seminal work Against Our Will, a groundbreaking exploration of rape and male dominance, has died at 90. Her influential book, a primarykeyword, reshaped the global understanding of sexual violence during the 1970s and beyond. Brownmiller’s rigorous research challenged victim-blaming and positioned rape as a tool for patriarchal control. The impact of Against Our Will is undeniable; it prompted widespread conversations, becoming a secondarykeyword for feminists and activists seeking justice. News Directory 3 recognizes the importance of her contributions. Brownmiller’s legacy lives on, continuing to shape the discourse on consent and gender dynamics. What’s the lasting influence of her work? Discover what’s next.
Susan Brownmiller, ‘Against Our Will’ Author, Dies at 90
Updated May 28, 2025
Susan Brownmiller, the author whose groundbreaking 1975 book, Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape, redefined the conversation around sexual violence, has died. She was 90. Historian Claire Bond Potter, who is writing Brownmiller’s biography, confirmed her death.
Suzanne Vlamis/AP
Susan Brownmiller’s Against Our Will explored the history of rape and challenged the notion of victim-blaming.
Against Our Will became a bestseller, offering a broad audience the first extensive examination of sexual assault. Potter noted the book prompted readers to consider sexual assault not merely as a crime or the result of patriarchal power, but as a mechanism for enforcing male dominance through fear. The book is a landmark study of rape and sexual violence.
brownmiller dedicated four years to researching and writing Against Our Will, delving into library archives to explore wartime mass rape, biases against female victims in the legal system, and persistent cultural attitudes surrounding rape. Her work provided a new perspective on sexual assault and male dominance.
What’s next
Brownmiller’s legacy continues to influence discussions on sexual violence and gender dynamics. Her work remains relevant in contemporary conversations about consent, power, and justice.