On the Wrong Side: How Universities Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence

by Nicole Bedera

This explosive investigation reveals the profound failures of the Title IX system and identifies concrete, surprisingly simple steps we can take to protect students.

The debate over campus sexual violence is more heated than ever, but hardly anyone knows what actually happens inside Title IX offices. On the Wrong Side provides the first comprehensive account of the inner workings of the secretive Title IX system. Drawing on a yearlong study of survivors, perpetrators, and the administrators who oversaw their cases, sociologist Nicole Bedera exposes the structures that predictably punish survivors who come forward in the service of protecting—or even rewarding—their perpetrators. In doing so, she reveals that the system tasked with ending gender inequality on campus only intensifies it, upending survivors' lives and threatening the degrees that brought them to college in the first place.

Equally heartbreaking and optimistic, On the Wrong Side makes it easy to imagine life-changing interventions for the next generation of students by proposing specific solutions to the structural problems of Title IX. Bedera proves that ending campus sexual violence is within our grasp—and dares us to be courageous enough to take action.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism

320 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because my daughter was recently involved in a Title IX case at college. After reading this book I understand why she lost the case better. She was treated better and received more support from her professors than many of the victims in this book, however, it is infuriating to see how this system that was set up to protect students has been twisted in such a way that the perpetrators have more rights and benefits than the victims.

This book also highlights the closed world of a college campus. You pay upfront for your classes and, in many cases, your housing, meals, and healthcare. It is almost like the company towns of the early 1900s. Depending on how many amenities the college offers (and most to attract high-paying students have state-of-the-art dorms and gyms) and how easily accessible and safe the local community is, students may spend most of their time in the campus community.

The failure of the university to make even basic accommodations to help these women is appalling. The author tells of cases where a student abused in her living community was not offered a safer place to live. Another woman was required to perform an intimate dance with her perpetrator to complete a required class.

This is an eye-opening book that should be read by college students and their families so that they are aware of their rights if they are a victim and the hurdles they will face trying to bring a perpetrator to justice. The book also describes how victims' rights were curtailed during the first Trump administration. I fear with the number of histories of sexual misconduct in his inner circle, it will become even harder for victims to receive a fair resolution of their cases.

[Abigail Barefoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as someone who is very familiar with the limitations of how campuses respond to campus sexual assault, this book shocked me with the depth of institutional betrayal that survivors experienced at universities. While I had some quibbles with the book or things I wish it covered in more depth, this is a must read for folks interested in campus sexual assault or sexual assault in general. I am already trying to thinking about how I can teach the book…

[elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s all so true and all so believable. Especially the capitalisation of the hyperdramatic woman, every piece of evidence you could ever need, and a system that defines success as its own failure.

[Katherine Lavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent but also confirms what a lot of people know who work on college campuses. This is a must read for anyone in an administrative role on campus.

[Matti Dimmick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sexual assault victim advocate and case manager at a nonprofit and mostly work outside of any university systems. I’m extremely grateful to have found this book as it gave me a huge amount of valuable insight into the unique challenges of navigating the Title IX system. As a fairly seasoned advocate, I’m not often shocked by examples of institutions failing survivors but I unfortunately found myself shocked at many points throughout this book at the sheer depth of institutional failure and backwards, mental gymnastics performed by those with the power to make a difference in these systems. Even still, I noticed a lot of parallels in the way that victims are regarded in universities and the criminal justice system where survivors’ needs, safety, wellbeing, and ideas about justice are considered secondary. I greatly appreciated Nicole Bedera’s focus on institutional betrayal for that reason. Understanding and walking through institutional betrayal with survivors is a necessity for effective advocacy and for working towards creating better systems that are actually supportive. This book is an extremely important and timely contribution to the work of understanding why our current systems don’t work and building something better.

[Jennifer Bolaños · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really distraught while reading this book. I'd read it again, anyway. It's important. It's educational and it's hopeful. We need to understand what is really going on with Title IX sa cases on college campuses in order to make change. And we need change fast! Thank you Nicole for the long hours, the research, the commitment, and for writing this book.

[Sally Kenney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book and need to figure out how to assign it to my class halfway through. It captures in ethnographic details the many shortcomings of the implementation of Title IX to campus sexual assault complains. It exposes the himpathy of the male protection racket by university officials and why victims are so re-traumatized.

[Ash J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great sociological study into a title 9 office on an unnamed campus. Important work that showcases how victims are victimized not just by their attacker but also the system itself. Would recommend this book to anyone studying women studies

(I also requested my local library to purchase this book so I could read it. To those who want to read it, I would recommend doing the same)

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to read (due to the content). SO IMPORTANT to read (due to the content).

[Sofia Buy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough examination of Western University’s Title IX system, and covers institutional betrayal

[Mackenzie (taleswithtank)]

A phenomenal reflection and critique of the Title IX process in the typical college campus. A must read for anyone and everyone, but especially folks who work in higher education.