iamnaomifaye's review
4.0
The after-game rituals of Australian footballers blur the line between rape and consensual sex, but are repeatedly excused in sports culture with a “boys will be boys” mentality. These stories of “night games” are weaved into the author’s reportage of the rape trial of an AFL player in 2010 (two Collingwood players were linked to case but never charged).
Anna Krien covers all aspects of the problematic culture surrounding this behaviour, including sexism in sport and the discrimination of women in the inner sanctum of footy. It reveals the grey areas of consensual sex, and the way this murkiness effects rape trials and our reaction to rape allegations.
What I liked about Night Games is Krien’s balanced approach. She doesn’t condemn anyone. She’s careful not to blame victims or footballers, but rather questions AFL’s sexist culture and the culture surrounding it.
I love first-person investigative journalism. Night Games is a really engaging and enlightening read. I knew this stuff went on, but seeing it laid out bare was confronting.
Anna Krien covers all aspects of the problematic culture surrounding this behaviour, including sexism in sport and the discrimination of women in the inner sanctum of footy. It reveals the grey areas of consensual sex, and the way this murkiness effects rape trials and our reaction to rape allegations.
What I liked about Night Games is Krien’s balanced approach. She doesn’t condemn anyone. She’s careful not to blame victims or footballers, but rather questions AFL’s sexist culture and the culture surrounding it.
I love first-person investigative journalism. Night Games is a really engaging and enlightening read. I knew this stuff went on, but seeing it laid out bare was confronting.
snoutling's review
3.0
I would have preferred a more academic approach, however, I think it is important that Krien has broached this topic in an accessible way.
softandcrunchy's review
3.0
A very interesting and important subject that deserves a more rigorous treatment than Krien gives it here. I agree with other reviewers who have noted the absence of the rape victim's voice and that Krien seems to loose her way somewhat towards the end of the book.
While, on one level, I like the way she has left all sides of the discussion open for the reader's consideration, I think the book is ultimately unsatisfying because she has chosen not to put forward and sustain a particular argument.
While, on one level, I like the way she has left all sides of the discussion open for the reader's consideration, I think the book is ultimately unsatisfying because she has chosen not to put forward and sustain a particular argument.
meganmaurice's review
3.0
A really important book, but I struggled in many parts with the author inserting herself into the narrative or comparing elite sporting moments to her own experiences in social basketball - it was a bit remiscent of Leigh Sales's book in that regard and it broke the flow of the story for me too often.
Also, this is a very NSW/QLD complaint but the constant shortening of rugby league to 'rugby' was really jarring and the fact that it was often done in quotes from people who would never use that shortening threw some doubt into my mind about the overall accuracy of the quotes.
I also think too much focus went on to 'balance' and telling the stories of the very tiny number of rape allegations that are proven to be false. The constant worry about how rape allegations ruin a man's life, when there are so many examples of this not being true, even when the rape did actually occur was something I found tough as well.
Also, this is a very NSW/QLD complaint but the constant shortening of rugby league to 'rugby' was really jarring and the fact that it was often done in quotes from people who would never use that shortening threw some doubt into my mind about the overall accuracy of the quotes.
I also think too much focus went on to 'balance' and telling the stories of the very tiny number of rape allegations that are proven to be false. The constant worry about how rape allegations ruin a man's life, when there are so many examples of this not being true, even when the rape did actually occur was something I found tough as well.
avrilhj's review
4.0
My only complaint is the lack of footnotes. When did non-fiction writers stop documenting their sources? I kept turning to the back to see where and when a particular quote came from and there was nothing.
oanh_1's review
4.0
Engaging and thoroughly depressing read. No surprises, of course. Sport - and AFL in particular - a hyper masculine, masochistic and misogynistic world? As a feminist, so I ignore sport at my peril? This certainly makes me hate sport more, and wish to distance myself from it even further.
An interesting point I’d not considered before about how the ogling of men playing sport is not equivalent to men ogling women generally. I’m often discomfited by what I perceive as objectification of men - it’s not how I see a way to end the objectification of women. “Men playing sport are still agents; their actions are not for objectification purposes.” (In quotes but I’m paraphrasing) Have to think about this more.
An interesting point I’d not considered before about how the ogling of men playing sport is not equivalent to men ogling women generally. I’m often discomfited by what I perceive as objectification of men - it’s not how I see a way to end the objectification of women. “Men playing sport are still agents; their actions are not for objectification purposes.” (In quotes but I’m paraphrasing) Have to think about this more.