So you’re tired of hearing about “rape culture”? | Rant Against the Random The following includes descriptions, photos, and video that may serve as a trigger for victims of sexual violence. Please be advised. Someone asked me today, “What is ‘rape culture’ anyway? Yeah, I hear ya. Rape culture is when a group of athletes rape a young girl, and though there are dozens of witnesses, no one says, “Stop.” Rape culture is when a group of athletes rape a young girl, and though there are dozens of witnesses, they can’t get anyone to come forward. Rape culture is when a group of athletes rape a young girl, and adults are informed of it, but no consequences are doled out because the boys “said nothing happened.” Rape culture is when a group of athletes rape a young girl, and we later find out that their coaches were “joking about it” and “took care of it.” Rape culture is when a group of athletes rape a young girl, and even though there is documentation of the coaching staff sweeping it under the rug, they get to keep their jobs. Click to zoom. and this: Like this:
The Verdict: Steubenville Shows the Bond Between Jock Culture and Rape Culture Share A sheriff’s vehicle at Steubenville High School. (Reuters/Jason Cohn) ”I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it.” —Bob Knight, Hall of Fame basketball coach, 1988 As a sportswriter, there is one part of the Steubenville High School rape trial that has kept rattling in my brain long after the defendants were found guilty. In this exchange we see an aspect of the Steubenville case that should resonate in locker rooms and athletic departments across the country: the connective tissue between jock culture and rape culture. We need to ask the question whether the jock culture at Steubenville was a catalyst for this crime. On colleges, there is reason to believe that the same teamwork, camaraderie and “specialness” produced by sports can be violently perverted to create a pack mentality that either spurs sexual violence or makes players fear turning in their teammates. That was two decades ago but there is no indication that anything has changed.
I Am Not Your Wife, Sister or Daughter. I Am A Person. I don’t have to tell you that Steubenville is all over the news. I don’t have to tell you that it’s a fucking joke that Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond, the two teenagers convicted of raping a sixteen year old girl, were only sentenced to a combined three years in juvenile prison. Each will serve a year for the rape itself; Mays will serve an additional year for “illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.” I probably don’t even have to tell you that the media treatment of this trial has been a perfect, if utterly sickening, example of rape culture, with its focus on how difficult and painful this event has been for the rapists who raped a sixteen year old girl then bragged about it on social media. And I almost certainly don’t have to tell you that the world is full of seemingly nice, normal people who want to go to bat for the convicted rapists. I’m quite sure that you already know about the victim-blaming that’s been happening since this case first came to light. Like this:
Public Shaming Responses to the Steubenville Verdict Reveal Rape Culture Yesterday two juvenile men were convicted of rape, one was convicted of distributing a nude photo of a minor (NPR). The response by a segment of society reflects rape culture: ”an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture” (source). Below are a series of concrete examples. CNN coverage of the verdict spends six minutes on how sad the conviction is for the rapists: It was incredibly emotional… to watch what happened as these two young men that had such promising futures, star football players, very good students, literally watched as, as they believed their life fell apart. MsCongeniality: A selection of tweets collected by Public Shaming: A selection of tweets collected by Mommyish: A selection of tweets collected by Persephone Magazine: Tweets collected by The Inquisitr: Ms. Great coverage from around the web:
Steubenville : quand la culture du viol se heurte au culte du sportif Pondu par Sophie-Pierre Pernaut le 26 novembre 2013 Retour sur l’affaire de Steubenville qui, entre culte du sport et slutshaming, illustre malheureusement parfaitement ce que vivent parfois les victimes de viol. Mise à jour, le 26 novembre 2013 — L’affaire de Steubenville, qui était déjà absolument sordide, s’enfonce encore un peu plus dans le glauque. On apprenait il y a quelques heures que quatre membres du lycée ont été mis en examen : Le directeur est accusé d’avoir fait obstruction à la justice et d’avoir manipulé des preuvesUn assistant-coach de 26 ans d’avoir fait boire des mineurs, de faux témoignage et d’avoir entravé l’affaireDeux autres employés de l’école, pour ne pas avoir signalé une agression sur mineure. Le 18 mars 2013 — Ma’lik Richmond et Trent Mays ont respectivement 16 et 17 ans et sont lycéens à Steubenville, dans l’Ohio. Le jour du verdict, cette histoire sordide a été remise sur le devant de la scène après que la chaîne américaine CNN a décidé de la couvrir.
Steubenville and the misplaced sympathy for Jane Doe's rapists | Megan Carpentier The victim in the Steubenville rape case, known in most (but not all) of the media coverage of the case as "Jane Doe", was taught by her rapists, her then-friends and much of her hometown that she doesn't matter. She didn't matter to the boys who made use of her unconscious body to satisfy their own sexual urges and desire for power; she didn't matter to her friends who sided with those boys; and she didn't matter to the football boosters in her hometown, who were unwilling to see their pride in the team tarnished by the actions of two of its players. She learned that a lot of people around her, including some in positions of power, thought that the futures of her rapists were more important than what they'd done to her and what she'd have to learn to live with. It wasn't enough that ABC aired a rosy profile of one of the now-convicted rapists before the trial, emphasizing his happy mood the night of the rape and his football career.
Michael Crook | The Official Blog: Travesty of justice in Steubenville Anti-social to say the least, I neither "blog," "chat" nor socialize, nor do I attend parties, raves, shindigs, hoedowns, hootenannies, get-togethers, reunions, feasts, clubs, functions, revivals, flash mobs, churches, gatherings, meetings, potlucks, picnics, or anything of the sort. Called "vindictive," "retaliatory," "cruel," and "downright evil" by those who have crossed me, and who found out--far too late--that I involve innocent family, friends, neighbors--and others---in my revenge process, I am Michael Crook. I am neither compassionate, caring nor kind. I revel in seeing the look of shock and horror on their faces when they reap their comeuppance at my hand. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and (yes and) psychosis NOS, I am crazy (and angry) enough to make it happen.
Steubenville teens are found guilty but rape culture remains alive and well *Trigger warning* Yesterday, the verdict was handed down in the Steubenville rape case. The defendants, Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond, were found guilty. Mays will serve at least two years in the state juvenile system; Richmond was sentenced to at least one year. And the attorney general may also bring charges against others who turned a blind eye to the assault. I feel great relief that I’m not writing about a “not guilt” verdict today. But it’s hard to hold on to that sense of relief–to realize that this ending was the best one possible in this particular case–when the problem is so much bigger. I don’t want to live in a world in which a mainstream media outlet reporting on the verdict barely mentions the victim in their rush to lament the fact that the “promising lives” of the defendants have been ruined and that this “will haunt them for the rest of their lives.” I don’t want to live in a world in which the victim’s former best friends testify against her. Image via
Two Steubenville football players found guilty of raping teenage girl at party | World news Two high school football players from a team that was the pride of the small former steel-producing town of Steubenville, Ohio, were convicted Sunday of raping a 16-year-old girl at a party. Former school quarterback Trent Mays, 17, and team-mate Ma'lik Richmond, 16, broke down in tears in the juvenile court after being found guilty in a case that bitterly divided the declining Rust Belt city and had led to accusations of a cover-up to protect the community's revered athletes. Both were ordered to serve at least a year behind bars, with Mays given an additional 12 months for distributing an image of a nude minor. Richmond broke into sobs as he approached the victim's family after the verdict, and was heard to tell them: "I'm sorry for the trouble I have caused you." Mays also burst into tears and mumbled apologies but did not go over to the family. Mays and Richmond were accused of using their fingers to penetrate the girl without her consent. "It was really scary," she said.
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