Blaming Children: How Rape Myths Manifest in Defense Attorneys’ Questions to Children Testifying About Child Sexual Abuse

Since rape myths were codified in 1980 (Burt, 1980), scholars have shown that individuals who endorse rape myths perceive victims as less credible and more responsible for rape and perpetrators as less responsible. Studies also show that rape myths hinder successful adjudication of rape cases by inf...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:  
Bibliographische Detailangaben
1. VerfasserIn: George, Suzanne St. (VerfasserIn)
Beteiligte: Denne, Emily ; Stolzenberg, Stacia N.
Medienart: Elektronisch Aufsatz
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: 2022
In: Journal of interpersonal violence
Jahr: 2022, Band: 37, Heft: 17/18, Seiten: NP16623-NP16646
Online-Zugang: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Journals Online & Print:
Lade...
Verfügbarkeit prüfen: HBZ Gateway
Schlagwörter:

MARC

LEADER 00000naa a22000002 4500
001 1884151922
003 DE-627
005 20240322173445.0
007 cr uuu---uuuuu
008 240322s2022 xx |||||o 00| ||eng c
024 7 |a 10.1177/08862605211023485  |2 doi 
035 |a (DE-627)1884151922 
035 |a (DE-599)KXP1884151922 
040 |a DE-627  |b ger  |c DE-627  |e rda 
041 |a eng 
084 |a 2,1  |2 ssgn 
100 1 |a George, Suzanne St.  |e VerfasserIn  |4 aut 
245 1 0 |a Blaming Children: How Rape Myths Manifest in Defense Attorneys’ Questions to Children Testifying About Child Sexual Abuse 
264 1 |c 2022 
336 |a Text  |b txt  |2 rdacontent 
337 |a Computermedien  |b c  |2 rdamedia 
338 |a Online-Ressource  |b cr  |2 rdacarrier 
520 |a Since rape myths were codified in 1980 (Burt, 1980), scholars have shown that individuals who endorse rape myths perceive victims as less credible and more responsible for rape and perpetrators as less responsible. Studies also show that rape myths hinder successful adjudication of rape cases by influencing juries? assessments of perpetrator guilt (Dinos et al., 2015). While most of this research focuses on sexual assaults involving adult victims, some scholars have found that victims as young as 12 are blamed for rape. If rape myths influence the perceptions of sex offenses even when victims are children, then defense attorneys in child sexual abuse (CSA) cases may be motivated to highlight rape myth in CSA trials. In the current study, we conducted a content analysis of the cross-examinations of 122 children, aged 6 to 17, alleging CSA to determine if and how defense attorneys question children about rape myths. We looked for questions about force and resistance, motives to lie, victim precipitation, and character issues (e.g., habitual drug use). We found that defense attorneys commonly referenced rape myths in CSA trials. A total of 10% of all defense attorneys? lines of questioning referenced a rape myth, and attorneys asked 77% of children at least one rape myth line of questioning. Whether or not attorneys asked about different myths and the content of these questions varied by children?s age. Our findings indicate that defense attorneys use rape myths strategically to undermine children?s credibility in CSA trials, but they adapt (adult) rape myths in ways that are plausible in the CSA context. Policies formed to prevent the prejudicial impact of rape myths at sexual assault trials involving adults (e.g., rape shield laws) may not adequately prevent their impact in CSA trials. Prosecutors, therefore, should address rape myths at CSA trials. 
650 4 |a attorney strategies 
650 4 |a Child Sexual Abuse 
650 4 |a Rape Myths 
650 4 |a Victim credibility 
700 1 |a Denne, Emily  |e VerfasserIn  |4 aut 
700 1 |a Stolzenberg, Stacia N.  |e VerfasserIn  |4 aut 
773 0 8 |i Enthalten in  |t Journal of interpersonal violence  |d London [u.a.] : Sage, 1986  |g 37(2022), 17/18, Seite NP16623-NP16646  |h Online-Ressource  |w (DE-627)324614721  |w (DE-600)2028900-5  |w (DE-576)276556305  |x 1552-6518  |7 nnns 
773 1 8 |g volume:37  |g year:2022  |g number:17/18  |g pages:NP16623-NP16646 
856 4 0 |u https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211023485  |x Resolving-System  |z lizenzpflichtig  |3 Volltext 
951 |a AR 
ELC |a 1 
LOK |0 000 xxxxxcx a22 zn 4500 
LOK |0 001 4503088866 
LOK |0 003 DE-627 
LOK |0 004 1884151922 
LOK |0 005 20240322173445 
LOK |0 008 240322||||||||||||||||ger||||||| 
LOK |0 040   |a DE-2619  |c DE-627  |d DE-2619 
LOK |0 092   |o n 
LOK |0 852   |a DE-2619 
LOK |0 852 1  |9 00 
LOK |0 866   |x zotak: Nacherfasst, da in zota-Errors 
LOK |0 935   |a krzo 
ORI |a SA-MARC-krimdoka001.raw