Faculty members write book on political sex scandals
Sex scandals in American politics are nothing new, but a soon-to-be published book by
nine Shippensburg University faculty members takes a new look at the phenomenon
and its impact on the nation. Sex Scandals in American Politics is to be released in September by
Continuum Press.
The book was edited by Dr. Alison Dagnes, associate professor of political
science, who also co-wrote the chapter "The Politics, Geography and
Constituencies of Political Sex Scandals" with Dr. Janet Smith, associate
professor of geography-earth science.
Chapters were written by
- Dr. Cynthia Drenovsky, professor of sociology, “Game
Changer: The Clinton Scandal and American Sexuality”
- Dr. James Griffith, assistant
professor of psychology, “The Psychology of Risky Sexual Behavior: Why
Politicians Expose Themselves”
- Dr. Mark Sachleben, associate professor of
political science, “A Framework for Understanding: Sex Scandals in Comparison”
- Dr. Carrie Sipes, assistant professor of communication/journalism, “Men,
Mistresses, and Media Framing: Examining Political Sex Scandals”
- Dr. Richard
Knight, associate professor of human communication studies, “Love Means
Sometimes Having to Say You’re Sorry”
- Stephanie Jirard, associate professor of
criminal justice, “It May Be Wrong, But it’s Not a Crime: The negligible legal
consequences for the amoral sexual activity of men in public office”
- Dr. Cynthia Botteron, associate professor of
political science, “Hedging the Bet: Constitutional Qualifications for National Public
Office.”
According to the publisher’s website, “From the misbehavior of President Clinton to Governor Mark Sanford’s
Argentinean tryst, sex scandals have become a prominent feature of American
public life. This unique collection of essays explains why politicians elected
for their leadership and promises of ethical behavior risk their career, and
the socio-political consequences of their actions. It argues that political sex
scandals are distinct from other types of sex scandals because the nature of
elected office is very different from “civilian” life.
“The construction,
disgrace, and aftermath of political sex scandals are examined from different
academic angles, including the politics of place, human communication,
political psychology, media, sociology, feminism, and criminology. The essays
delve into the role of culture and geography on the political outcome of a
scandal, the rhetoric of apologia, the psychology of risk, trends and patterns
in media coverage, the impact on different organized interests, legal
ramifications, and how different countries view political sex scandal.”
As part
of the book’s release, the authors are planning several events including a reading/book
signing in Old Main Chapel sometime after the semester starts this fall and an interdisciplinary
academic conference on political scandals to be held at the Conference Center
at Shippensburg University in June 2012. They also are available for media
interviews as other scandals occur.
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