Taming the Victim: Rape in Soap Opera

Dutta, Manoranjan

doi:10.1080/01956059909602795

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The belief that male aggression and female passivity in the sex act comprise moments of seduction instead of coercion is one of several rape myths that effectively equates consent with its opposite.' The reinterpretation of rape as seduction permeates North American popular culture, from 18th-century seduction novels (Bontatibus 1999) to 20th-century soap operas (Dutta 1999). Critics of the antirape movement also emphasize the supposed prevalence of "seduction" in romantic relationships to undermine arguments about the seriousness of date rape (see Carlin 1994;Felten 1991;Gutmann 1991).…”

Section: Acquaintace Rape and The "Seduction" Defensementioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Inequality and Criminal Seduction: Prosecuting Sexual Coercion in the Early-20th Century

Donovan

2005

Law and Social Inquiry

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This artick analyzes narratives of sexual consent and coercion in 15 criminal seduction cases tried in New York City from 1903 to 191 8 . I explore courtroom accounts of seduction to explain how dominant notions of masculinity and femininity constrain the effectiveness of sex crime laws. Unlike men, women in the Progressive era ( I 900-1 920) who engaged in premarital sex faced potentially significant social costs in the form of unwanted pregnancy and ostracism. These women could sometimes seek redress by bringing felony charges against men who reneged on their promises of marriage. New York's "seduction law" not only criminalized betrayal but it also functioned as a tool in the prosecution of sexual assault. Yet a patriarchal ideology of romantic courtship embedded in the statute, and defense attorney strategies that drew on this ideology, limited the law's ability to address sexual coercion.Recent scholarship on the legal treatment of sexual assault has attempted to uncover the asymmetrical power dynamics between men and women that enter the legal arena. Focusing on the relationship between the gender order and legal discourse, this body of research describes how trial testimony articulates gender-based moral evaluations (Conley and O'Barr 1998;Ehrlich 2001; Matoesian 2001; Taslitz 1999). This scholarship shows how different linguistic and discursive tactics create injustice and inequity despite formal features of the legal system designed to promote fairness and equality. Much of this work focuses on contemporary sexual assault trials, leaving the historical roots of sex crime trials, as well as the changing cultural Brian Donovan is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Kansas. The author wishes to thank

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Section: Acquaintace Rape and The "Seduction" Defensementioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Inequality and Criminal Seduction: Prosecuting Sexual Coercion in the Early-20th Century

Donovan

2005

Law and Social Inquiry

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“…On the one hand, it's made clear that rape is a crime, being raped causes a great deal of trauma, and so long as the rapist isn't meant to be redeemed things usually don't end well for them (Dutta, 1999). And yet the message is clear: if the victim had behaved better this wouldn't have happened (Dutta 1999).…”

Section: Trigger Warning: Use Of Sexual Violence As Plot Devicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In literature and television, sexual violence has been a tried and true way to make unlikable female characters likable (Dutta, 1999). When the audience meets Kaltain they have every reason to dislike her, to have no problem with such a vapid and conniving girl rotting away in the dungeons.…”

Section: Trigger Warning: Use Of Sexual Violence As Plot Devicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…When rape is meant to be a purifying and redemptive experience in storytelling these narratives communicate conflicting notions about sexual violence (Dutta, 1999). On the one hand, it's made clear that rape is a crime and being raped causes victims a great deal of trauma.…”

Section: Trigger Warning: Use Of Sexual Violence As Plot Devicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Introduce a young woman, show her behaving badly, in this context bad behavior is characterised as being sexually aggressive, manipulative, dishonest, and then have her to be the victim of rape or a sexual assault (Dutta, 1999). On the one hand, it's made clear that rape is a crime, being raped causes a great deal of trauma, and so long as the rapist isn't meant to be redeemed things usually don't end well for them (Dutta, 1999). And yet the message is clear: if the victim had behaved better this wouldn't have happened (Dutta 1999).…”

Section: Trigger Warning: Use Of Sexual Violence As Plot Devicementioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Men Are Stronger; Women Endure: A Critical Analysis of the Throne of Glass and The Mortal Instruments YA Fantasy Series

Cruger

Irvin-Mitchell²

2017

JMC

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This study analyzes two popular YA fantasy series: Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments and Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass. We evaluate both series for explore tropes and themes common to YA fantasty. Research shows that popular series have importat effect on identity formation of readers, for good or ill. We conclude that, despite often being written by women and about girls, the narratives found in YA often perpetuate internalized sexism, play into racist tropes, reduce heroines to love interests, romanticize unhealthy relationships, use rape as a plot device, and abuse characters' reproductive abilities.

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All My (Queer) Children: Disrupting Daytime Desire in Pine Valley

Leaker¹

2011

Queer Popular Culture

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Taming the Victim: Rape in Soap Opera

Cited by 8 publications

References 2 publications

Gender Inequality and Criminal Seduction: Prosecuting Sexual Coercion in the Early-20th Century

Gender Inequality and Criminal Seduction: Prosecuting Sexual Coercion in the Early-20th Century

Men Are Stronger; Women Endure: A Critical Analysis of the Throne of Glass and The Mortal Instruments YA Fantasy Series

All My (Queer) Children: Disrupting Daytime Desire in Pine Valley

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