Join us on Wednesday, March 2, at 7:00PM for a VIRTUAL author talk!  This is part of Goodnow Library Author Series, hosted by Deborah Norkin.

Author Michelle Bowdler was recently recognized by the Massachusetts Center for the Book as one of Massachusetts' must-read authors of the year. Join Bowdler in conversation with Jacquelin Apsler, Executive Director of Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc.  Bowdler will discuss her critically acclaimed book, Is Rape A Crime?: A Memoir, An Investigation, and A Manifesto via Zoom.

About The Book: Award-winning writer and public health executive Michelle Bowdler's memoir indicts how sexual violence has been addressed for decades in our society, asking whether rape is a crime given that it is the least reported major felony, least successfully prosecuted, and fewer than 3% of rapists ever spend a day in jail. Cases are closed before they are investigated and DNA evidence sits for years untested and disregarded. Rape in this country is not treated as a crime of brutal violence but as a parlor game of he said / she said. It might be laughable if it didn’t work so much of the time. Given all this, it seems fair to ask whether rape is actually a crime. Is Rape A Crime?: A Memoir, An Investigation, and A Manifesto was nominated for a national book award.

About The Author: Michelle Bowdler has been a public health expert working in higher education for the majority of her career and, after graduating from the Harvard School of Public Health, has worked on social justice issues related to rape for over a decade. Is Rape a Crime? is her first book. She is a recipient of a 2017 Barbara Deming Memorial Award and has been a Fellow at Ragdale and the MacDowell Colony. Bowdler's writing has been published in the New York Times and her essays “Eventually You Tell Your Kids” and “Babelogue” were nominated for Pushcart Prizes. Learn more about Bowdler HERE.

About Jacquelin Apsler: Apsler is the Executive Director of Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN). Apsler has worked in the domestic violence field for sixteen years. As the Executive Director of DVSN, Jacquelin has built on the program’s past success to bridge the gap between police departments and the community - a model that sets DVSN apart. Jacquelin establishes priorities and constantly reevaluates the program in order to provide the most professional services to survivors of domestic violence. DVSN is recognized as an innovative program of collaboration and advocacy. Learn more about DVSN HERE.