The Colour of Sexual Slander

本项目旨在调查19世纪性诽谤的历史及其与种族和性别观念的关系。在法律的和历史框架内工作，它首次试图检查美国，英国和澳大利亚的法院档案和立法记录，以了解不同妇女试图纠正性侮辱和名誉攻击，并推动法律改革。预期成果包括国际合作和跨学科历史的开创性工作。预计将产生重大效益，包括制定当前的政策和法律的战略，以打击持续存在的性虐待和性骚扰问题，从而改善妇女的人身安全和经济福祉。

This project aims to investigate the history of sexual slander in the 19th century and its relationship to ideas of race and gender. Working within legal and historical frameworks, it seeks to examine, for the first time, court files and legislative records across the USA, UK and Australia, to understand diverse women’s attempts to redress sexual insults and reputational attacks, and drive law reform. Expected outcomes include international collaborations and path-breaking works of interdisciplinary history. Significant benefits are expected, including shaping policy and legal strategies in the present to combat the ongoing problem of sexual abuse and harassment, leading to improvements in women’s personal safety and economic wellbeing.