Objectify This

The New York Times recently reported that yet another rapist is being let off of the hook - as the majority are. Nearly 95% of men standing trial for rape in the United States and the United Kingdom are cleared of all charges, which is a shocking number considering the social, personal and political consequences that a rape survivor faces in bringing the charges to court in the first place.

In this case, “An American marine accused in an alleged gang-rape of a 19-year-old Japanese woman last year was sentenced Friday to two years in prison after being convicted of “wrongful sexual contact and indecent acts” but cleared of rape, the United States military said.

“The marine, Lance Cpl. Larry A. Dean, 20, was the first of four marines who are to face court-martial in the case, involving an episode in Hiroshima in October. Japanese authorities had investigated the matter but in November decided not to prosecute.

“As part of his sentence, Lance Corporal Dean was dishonorably discharged, according to a statement by the Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, in southern Japan. He also must forfeit all pay and allowances and was reduced in rank to private.

“During the court-martial on Thursday he was also convicted of “fraternization and violating military orders about liberty and alcohol.” He was found not guilty of rape and kidnapping charges.

“The other marines charged are Gunnery Sgt. Carl M. Anderson, 39, Gunnery Sgt. Jarvis D. Raynor, 34, and Sgt. Lanaeus J. Braswell, 25. Sergeant Anderson and Sergeant Raynor will be court-martialed later this month, and Sergeant Braswell in June, Master Gunnery Sgt. John Cordero said on Friday.”

In many ways, gang rape is the most disgusting kind of rape. Unlike date rape, or drunk date rape, when there is sometimes an especially gray area about the consent of either or both parties, gang rape is the intentional violation and re-violation of the victim, in the presence of witnesses and usually in full knowledge of the victim’s lack of consent.

The appallingly low conviction rates for rape have not always been this way, either. The Feminist Peace Network reports that “Currently only 5.7 per cent of rapes reported in the UK lead to a criminal conviction, a figure which has fallen from 33 per cent in 1977.” Why has the rate of convictions fallen so dramatically?

The FPN reports that “Stereotypical media representations of rape are damaging conviction rates when cases come to court, according to a Home Office funded study.

“The report, entitled Just Representations? Press Reporting and the Reality of Rape, concluded that highly selective and sensational reporting of rape cases has distorted public perceptions to such an extent that juries can no longer recognise the more typical rape when they are presented with it in during a trial.

“The study identifies a press “construct” about rape – namely that it is an outdoor crime, suffered by an unimpeachable woman at the hands of a monstrous deviant – a scenario that actually contradicts all research and crime statistics, distorting public perceptions and feeding into the criminal justice system.The widespread belief among the public is that women are most at risk of being raped when walking alone in dark or remote areas. Although instantly recognisable, the scenario bears little resemblance to the reality of most rapes.

“More than 80 per cent of rapes in the UK are perpetrated by men known to their victim, and only 13 per cent happen in public places. The widespread misconception is largely generated by the media, according to the report.

“Statistics revealed in the report – which surveyed a random selection of articles about rape and sexual assault over a 12-month period – show that vastly disproportionate press coverage was given to false rape allegations made by women, attacks by foreigners, and attacks on young girls.”

Such representations are so common that they have become widely accepted. The Daily Mail reports that Asda, a supermarket chain, “has pulled a slogan T-shirt from sale following complaints it was an incitement to rape. The £4 men’s garment showed images of women and the words: “If at first you don’t succeed… buy her another beer.”

“It prompted Rape Crisis Scotland to launch a letter writing campaign calling for the T-shirt to be pulled. Template letters addressed to Asda on the group’s website say the slogan shows “overt contempt” towards women.

“Asda staff said the T-shirts were humorous and shouldn’t be taken too simply.But the Rape Crisis letter says: “These T-shirts are, however, plainly and simply an incitement to rape. That is not a matter of opinion, but of fact.”

“The men’s t-shirts went on sale in January as part of Asda’s comedy range. Around 15,000 were sold before the supermarket chain pulled them from sale last week in response to the complaints.

“An Asda spokesman said the T-shirts were “just a bit of fun,” and added, “Even though we have only had a small number of complaints we have decided to withdraw this particular T-shirt. Naturally we are sorry that anyone found the T-shirt offensive,” he said.”

The unfortunate upshot is that there’s a lot of reinforcement for the idea that women are second class citizens when their emotional and physical safety is regularly subordinated to the sexual desires of men, creating a rape culture of the objectification of women.  Here’s an argument against objectification. Here’s a description of women’s inequality under the U.S. Constitution. Here’re some other examples of the normalization of rape in popular culture and cultural reinforcement of gender power disparities. And here’s why feminism is not about hating men.