Sexual paranoia and the rise of governance feminism

University students are changing how they regard sexual culture. Many feel conflicted about sexual experiences, which they see as potentially traumatising.

Laura Kipnis

Professor emerita of Radio-TV-Film

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Laura Kipnis

Professor emerita of Radio-TV-Film

24 May 2025

Key Points

University students are changing how they regard sexual culture. Many feel conflicted about sexual experiences, which they see as potentially traumatising.
Changing attitudes and incidents surrounding alcohol are leading to “sexual paranoia” on campuses. The growing bureaucracy surrounding Title IX may also incentivise accusations and prosecutions.
This culture is due to the rise of governance feminism, which originated from the anti-pornography movement. Governance feminism is largely paternalistic.

A lighthearted essay

Photo by Diego Cervo

I was asked to write an essay about campus sexual politics, and I had no idea what a minefield I was entering. I wrote this ironic, lighthearted article. The article covered the policy prohibiting professor and student romantic relationships that was enacted on my own campus.

This policy came out of the blue. I compared it to my college experience where many students slept with their teachers, and nobody seemed to suffer too much. In this light, I wrote this essay, and it became incredibly controversial in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

Campus sexual culture

Sure enough, I was a bit out of touch with the times. I ended up writing more about campus sexual politics – or campus sexual paranoia as I came to think of it – and eventually wrote a book. My book focused on a case involving a professor and some students.

From this work, I came to understand how students, particularly undergrads, regard sexual culture. It made me realise how conflicted and contradictory sex is for students. This is very different from when I was in school.

Adding fuel to the fire

A complete contradiction exists between the expectations of hookup culture and the effects of alcohol. Alcohol is an important part of this culture, and it also has undesirable consequences for many. I don’t want to sound anti-booze, but the amount of binge drinking on American campuses is on the rise, particularly among women. Unfortunately, there is the misconception that feminism and sexual liberation mean being feisty and matching guys shot for shot.

This is worrisome because women are typically smaller and have less body mass. Women also tend to pass out sooner or become blackout drunk, a state where you still appear conscious but do not form memories. Women in this state wake up the next morning with no memory of what happened.

Furthermore, I believe alcohol ends up enhancing stereotypical gender behaviours. I think it makes guys more aggressive and women more passive. After all, if you’re passed out, you’re in a passive and self-endangering position.

Sexual paranoia

Photo by Joshua Rainey Photography

Moreover, there is also an increasing sense of vulnerability among students. Many regard sex, to some degree, as something that can be traumatising.

Simultaneously, there is the mainstreaming of internet porn, which has changed sexual culture and male sexual style. This makes sex more aggressive and less pleasant for those involved. Young women often find themselves in situations they are unable to control. They may end up experiencing things they don’t want to experience. Those behaviours are often a derivative of porn.

Complicating matters, there is also the rise of regulatory culture on campuses. Colleges and universities are stepping in to pass judgement on those accused of sexual misconduct. Those people are generally undergraduate guys, although women are accused as well.

Title IX regulation

The imperative to regulate in the United States comes from the federal government and Title IX. This regulation demands that schools, in the name of gender equity, police sexual misconduct. The ways they have found to do so are incredibly secret.

I was able to write a book about this subject because I obtained access to records that I shouldn’t have had. Under the auspices of Title IX, tribunals are occurring behind closed doors. They’re not public, and the rules are not known. Essentially, campus officials are stepping in and passing judgement on student sexual conduct.

At the same time, the growth of Title IX offices and student deans increases the number of accusations. As the bureaucracy grows, there is a greater need to adjudicate. This leads to a shopping expedition for accusations to prosecute. I know this because I was accused by two students of violating Title IX after writing about sexual paranoia. I was forced to confront those charges, although Title IX shouldn’t apply to a professor’s writing.

Affecting culture on campus

Naturally, this culture of being violated or traumatised has a ripple effect. For instance, numerous professors are being accused of things other than sexual misconduct.

This includes telling a joke that someone finds offensive. Teresa Buchanan, a professor at Louisiana State University, was fired for telling a racy joke among graduate students. Some complained that it made them uncomfortable, and now she is out of a job.

This has a chilling effect on professors and their ability to have a rapport with students. I think Teresa thought telling a dirty joke in an education class would increase her rapport, but now everyone is more fearful of that kind of thing.

Feminism’s role

The version of feminism focused on sexual emancipation has been eclipsed by another kind of feminism championed by Andrea Dworkin and Catharine MacKinnon. These were the architects of the anti-pornography movement. These prominent feminists also questioned heterosexual norms. They criticised them as oppressive to women and focusing on male pleasure over female pleasure.

Partly, these tensions have played out on campuses, and the Dworkin-MacKinnon viewpoint has become dominant in women’s studies programs. This philosophy has increased the sense of vulnerability among women and transformed into so-called governance feminism. According to governance feminism, women should take more administrative positions where they can use legal mechanisms. On campuses, this involves inventing new codes to regulate activity without considering how women students are being infantilised.

The consequences of governance feminism

Photo by EQRoy

The end result of governance feminism is very muscular forms of governance. In my view, this paternalist feminism does not help students later in life. These structures limit students’ ability to solve common problems such as what to do when someone wants to do something undesirable to you. Unfortunately, in the real world there is no longer a Title IX office where complaints can be submitted.

Of course, it would be wonderful if the broader culture transformed and sexuality was positively revamped. The reality is, however, that campuses are becoming more like a so-called nanny state. In the end, this disempowers the students that are meant to be empowered.