A New Jury: Social Media and its Influence on the Steubenville Rape Trial

• In Event: Third Party Observers: Effects and Victimizations

Abstract

The current study takes a constructionist approach to sexual victimization, specifically rape. It centers around the case study of the rape of 16-year-old Jane Doe in Steubenville, Ohio, and includes both a comprehensive timeline of events both the night of the rape and as the trial played out, as well as analysis of surveys (N=387) from a midsized Midwestern university. Surveys investigated both respondent knowledge of and opinions on the Steubenville case, as well as general rape myth acceptance. Results show that social media is a growing method of preferred news consumption among respondents, and that it has the potential to counter the traditional rape narratives perpetuated by government programs and the mass media. The current study seeks to identify the influence of social media on this trial, as well as its potential influence on future rape cases.

Author

• Holly Ningard, Ohio University