Reading Recommendation // Sexual Citizens

Drawing upon the most comprehensive study of sexual assault on a college campus to date, Sexual Citizens presents a new framework for understanding why sexual assault is such a common feature of college life and what can be done to prevent it. TFC Education Coordinator Eric Parsons shares why he recommends this book for not only educators and advocates, but anyone who cares about young people in their community

In late 2025 I stumbled across an article discussing the increased risk of sexual violence faced by women ages 18-24 compared to women in other age groups. College enrolled women in this age range are at especially high risk. As an educator focused on preventing and reducing domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, I of course had to learn more.

I started to research the factors contributing to the increased risk for these young women and learned of a book called Sexual Citizens: Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus by Jennifer S. Hirsch and Shamus Khan (2020). I picked up a copy from the library and dove in.

After doing this work for a decade, I believed myself to be knowledgeable about sexual violence, particularly about the power and control dynamics involved. Sexual Citizens offered an insight into the college environment, in which sexual assault often occurs in ways I was surprised to learn about. My understanding of the topic was challenged, and I’m grateful for it.

The authors of Sexual Citizens, both professors at Columbia University, interviewed 150 Columbia students and surveyed 1,600 more about their sex lives and experiences in college. The resulting work is an insight into what exactly is going on for these young people, how they feel about it, and what can be done to encourage healthier sexual encounters in the college environment. 

In reading Sexual Citizens, I learned about the sexual projects of young adults, how the physical world they exist in contributes to how they navigate intimacy, and what adults in their lives can do to help them have safer and more satisfying sexual relationships. From Hirsch and Khan’s work, I not only got the information I was looking for about why college-aged folks experience sexual violence at such high rates, but also some tools to use in my practice as an educator and ideas for how adults can work together to make positive change in the lives of college students.

Sexual Citizens is a surprisingly easy read, and while it’s focused on a difficult topic, the authors manage to leave the reader with positive feelings about college students and the work that can be done for their benefit. I highly recommend this book not only to educators, advocates, administrators, and preventionists, but to anyone who cares about the youth in their community.

The research Hirsh and Khan have conducted and relayed in Sexual Citizens can help us all do better in investing in the future wellbeing of the young people who will grow into the next generation of community members and leaders.

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Check out our recommended media resource page to find reviews and recommendations for more books, podcasts, and other media highlighting the stories of survivors and how we can all work toward ending interpersonal violence.

Sexual Citizens is in part about sexual assault on college campuses. Its discussion of the sex lives of college students includes experiences ranging from healthy and consensual sexual encounters to violent assaults. It’s powerful and so important to engage with honest stories of young people as they navigate sexual intimacy, but we encourage everyone to read with care.

While we always encourage readers who want to purchase their own copy of a book to make sure they support their local bookseller (like Montana Book Company here in Helena!), we realize Sexual Citizens may be on backorder for some time through most independent sellers. As an alternative, consider seeing if your local library has a copy available, or supporting independent used bookstores by purchasing a used copy through Biblio, or buying the Ebook through Bookshop.org.