Who Rapes? Perpetrator Characteristics on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”

• In Event: Poster Session 2

Abstract

The media plays an important role in shaping how society views critical issues, especially when people lack personal experience with those topics. One example of this is crime; since so many people do not commit crime and are not victimized, people rely on the media to tell them what crimes are committed and who commits them. In application to sexual assault, the media may perpetuate rape myths (i.e., stereotypes about the crime) in their depiction of cases, and this phenomenon is not confined to non-fiction; entertainment media, like movies and television, can influence public perceptions of rape as well. By adhering to myths in fictional portrayals of rape cases, including offenders, the media may be reinforcing hurtful stereotypes, like only Black men rape and rapists are mentally ill. This project examined how the TV show, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (1999-Present), depicts rape. The researchers used a quantitative content analytical approach that involved coding characteristics of the cases that related to common myths. This poster relays the results of the project from all 24 seasons that focus on offender characteristics (e.g., race, mental status, gender) to discern how rapists are constructed on the show.

Authors

• Jana Albustami, Texas A&M University

• Kaylie Moczygemba, Texas A&M University

• Lauren Delaunay, Texas A&M University

• Gemini Creason-Parker, Texas A&M University / Texas State University / Blinn College