Rape Comparison

Rape

February 16, 12

SCULLY and MAROLLA: My document is about how convicted rapists come to a conclusion to explain their crime of rape, and to also in their own minds justify their own actions. These imprisoned men explain these horrific crimes of dominance and power over another simply and lightly.

ROME: Do you find that there is a common trend between rapists? Do you feel that there is a link between race that drives men to commit these types of violent crimes?

SCULLY and MAROLLA: It seems like rape is a behavior type that is learned, and not something that is genetic or inherent. In the study that I conducted at the Virginia Department of Corrections, the rapists were disproportionately white and better educated than the average inmate.

ROME: That is interesting because I have focused most of my research on the stereotypes of criminals, and how society has grasped the idea that the average, typical criminal is an African American man. The media has always played a major part as to how perceive crime and the people that are affected by crime.

For example, during Hurricane Katrina, there were major headlines that hit about the devastation in the area and there was one situation that made a lasting effect on many of us. There was a picture of some people (doing the same exact thing) grabbing food and items in the crisis of the times and there were two snap-shots. The first photo of some white people and the second one of some black people. The first headline read Finding, the other read Looting! Black stereotyping is historical and this type of media coverage is only backing it up.

SCULLY and MAROLLA: Yes, I agree that this type of spotlight isn't fair or right; and neither is when rapists try and deny their involvement in the rape. It is easy to play the victim and say that she "got what she deserved" or that she wasn't a "nice girl" but ultimately she is a victim and he is a perpetrator.

ROME: Well said.

SCULLY and MAROLLA: Thanks ☺