Both the Highlands and backcountry US in the 1700s were areas without a government. Tribal areas, essentially, with a local Big Man in charge. Lots of robbery/theft, virulent hatred of others (the English, with some justification; the Native Americans, with very little), and a shocking amount of personal violence, much of it fueled by staggering amounts of liquor. We can't ever know how much rape there was back then because it never has been an easily provable crime. We can, however, estimate murders (dead bodies are fairly obvious) and those were much higher than today on a per capita basis. It was dangerous to be in either place.
That said, the sexual violence in Outlander does seem extreme and it's in sharp contrast to the otherwise romantic nostalgia for the rural settings. I can't tell if the violence is intended to undercut the Arcadian setting or if it's there to titillate.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2025-06-23 03:37 pm (UTC)That said, the sexual violence in Outlander does seem extreme and it's in sharp contrast to the otherwise romantic nostalgia for the rural settings. I can't tell if the violence is intended to undercut the Arcadian setting or if it's there to titillate.