“Inmate” versus “Offender”: Exploring Post-conviction Narratives of Rapists from Delhi Prison

• In Event: Sex Offender Narratives and Attitudes

Abstract

It is not unusual for rapists to utilize a range of discourse strategies to justify their sexual offending. The work presented in this paper explores the post-conviction narratives of rapists by comparing them with their non-sex offending counterpart, convicted murderers, from Delhi prison. The analysis highlights two distinct ‘references to self’ in the offence narratives of the convicted rapists (N=10) and murderers (N=10), emphasizing that strategic use of language by rapists is a key factor in their identity management. The findings have been discussed in light of their significance within the unique socio-cultural setup of India along with policy implications and recommendations for future research.

Authors

• Madhumita Pandey, Sheffield Hallam University

• Samantha Lundrigan, Anglia Ruskin University

• Colleen Moore, Anglia Ruskin University