Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town

Missoula examines the pervasive culture of sexual violence in college settings, with a particular focus on the University of Montana and the town of Missoula. This cultural context is crucial to understanding the book, which examines The Role of Institutions in Perpetuating or Combating Rape Culture, including the societal norms and legal frameworks that often fail to support survivors of sexual assault. The culture of silence, the practice of victim-blaming, and the prioritization of institutional reputation over individual justice are central to the narrative Krakauer constructs.

The book was published at a time when conversations about sexual assault, particularly on college campuses, were becoming increasingly prominent in public discourse. The early 2010s saw a growing awareness of the widespread nature of sexual violence, partially fueled by high-profile cases and investigative journalism. However, this increased awareness also brought controversy, particularly in the wake of Rolling Stone’s now-infamous debunked article on gang rape at the University of Virginia. This article, entitled “A Rape on Campus,” ran in 2014—just before Missoula’s publication, which led some reviewers to describe Krakauer’s work as a “corrective” to the notion that false rape accusations are commonplace (Gray, Eliza. “Jon Krakauer Defends New Book on Campus Rape.” Time, 23 Apr. 2015). Movements like #MeToo, which gained significant traction in 2017, sparked by the allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein, further highlighted the systemic issues within institutions that handle sexual assault cases.

Krakauer’s work contributes to this broader cultural conversation by focusing on how a college town revered for its close-knit community and strong university ties grapples with the ugly reality of sexual violence perpetrated by those whom the community often celebrates or protects. Krakauer’s narrative reveals how cultural factors such as the hero-worship of athletes create an environment where sexual violence is minimized or ignored. The setting of Missoula is reflective of a broader issue in American society, where the intersection of gender, power, and privilege often results in justice being elusive for survivors.