Without Consent: A Landmark Trial and the Decades-Long Struggle to Make Spousal Rape a Crime

In 1978, Greta Rideout became the first woman in United States history to accuse her husband of rape at a time when marital rape was a crime in only four states. The trial of Oregon v. Rideout ended in acquittal for John Rideout, and Greta faced public ridicule while her husband later became a repeat offender. The case drew national attention and raised urgent questions about women's rights. Sarah Weinman examines this landmark trial and its decades-long aftermath. The case directly inspired feminist activists who fought state by state for marital rape laws—a battle not completed in all fifty states until 1993. Using archival research and new reporting, Weinman traces the impact of the trial through interviews with Greta, women who later pressed charges against John, and activists who challenged the courts. The book explores debates about gender, sexuality, and power while documenting the misogyny embedded in American legal and cultural systems.