Studies in Lechery, by Cal Louise Phoenix

Cal is determined to forge a stable future, free from the burdens of poverty, mental illness, and alcoholism. Pursuing academia—writing, research, and teaching—promises her a path to advance in life. But when her sociology professor seduces her, everything she’s worked for is threatened.

What begins as a seemingly consensual relationship spirals into a nightmare fueled by deceit and manipulation. After it ends, Cal discovers she’s just one of many victims of a serial predator who exploits students and other faculty for his own pathological desires, and that the institution she trusted has no policies to regulate this abuse.

Through Cal’s journey, we confront the harsh realities of what scholar Anne J. Lane calls “academia’s dirty little secret.” Guided by research and her own experiences, Cal investigates cognitive dissonance, psychological abuse, consent, obedience to authority, and the power dynamics at play in professor-student relationships.

In Studies in Lechery, we witness a young woman transcend sexual exploitation and claim her role as an academic and literary force with this innovative memoir that will resonate with too many of its readers.