Rape is so pervasive in film and television that people are unlikely to notice it, says a UC Davis gender studies scholar.

In her new book, "Watching Rape: Film and Television in Postfeminist Culture," Sarah Projansky says popular understandings of feminism and activism against rape and sexual violence can be limited by the way that these cultural outlets represent the act.

"These films define feminism in limited ways by reducing women's life choices to work, family and their heterosexuality and by excluding people of color," says Projansky, associate professor of women and gender studies.

Among the films and TV programs that Projansky analyzes are "Thelma and Louise," "Rob Roy," "The Accused," "ER" and "Beverly Hills 90210."

Although rape is something that can happen to anyone, the films and TV programs feature as victims white heterosexual middle-class women to the point that women of color nearly disappear.

Projansky finds that the relatively few films and television shows about rape that do deal with African American women ("Rosewood," "She's Gotta Have It," "A Time to Kill," and episodes of "In the Heat of the Night" and "ER") still emphasize white women and men's experiences, telling stories about their work to end rape through the criminal justice system, for example.

She also reviews rape awareness and risk-reduction films. Although they dispel myths about rape, such as "rape is about sex (and not violence)," Projansky says, they generally do not confront the persistence of a link between sex and violence in our culture.

Editor's note: A review copy of Projanksy's book may be obtained by calling Staci Shands of NYU Press at (212) 992-9991 or contacting her at staci.shands@nyu.edu.