Virgin or Vamp: How the Press Covers Sex Crimes
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.27 (869 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0195086651 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 309 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2016-05-31 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Her conclusions: sex crimes against women are primarily expressions of misogyny and can be understood only by examining how society reinforces anti-female prejudices. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. . She argues that because many reporters, copy editors and editors are middle-class white males, and since the feminist wave of the 1970s and '80s seems, in some views, to be subsiding, it has been exceedingly difficult for the female victim of a sex crime to avoid being depicted as either a "virgin" or a "vamp." Here the author analyzes four rape cases: a Salem, Oregon, marital rape case (1978); the New Bedford, Mass., gang rape case (1983); New York's so-called Preppy Murder case (1986); and the Central Park jogger rape case (1989). In each, Benedict shows how the language of reporters and columnists reflected their biases (anti-woman in all except the jog
In the last few years, the national press has lavished coverage on several major sex-related scandals: the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill hearings, the William Kennedy Smith rape trial, and the Mike Tyson case. Such extreme coverage, argues Helen Benedict, perpetuates myths that are harmful to victims of these crimes (and sometimes to the accused). For instance, she shows how the New York press presented the Central Park jogger rape case as motivated by racism because of its unwillingness to consider rape an issue of gender. In conclusion, Benedict offers a number of solutions that will help reporters cover these increasingly common crimes without further harming the victims, the defendants, or public understanding.. In Virgin or Vamp Benedict examines the press's treatment of four notorious sex crimes from the past decade--the Rideout marital rape trial in Oregon, the Big Dan's pool table gang rape in Massachusetts, the "Preppy Murder" in New York City, and the Central Park jogger case--and shows how victims are labelled either as virgins or vamps, a practice she condemns as misleading and harmful. With each ev
A gripping read. Benedict's thought-provoking book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the myths of rape that continue to pervade our culture. Benedict places media coverage of sex crimes into historical perspective and casts light on our understanding of sexual viol. A detailed look at how the media potrays rape victims I learned a great deal reading this book. I had read it years ago, and just picked it up again. It really dives deep and explores how the media handles high profile rape cases.