Event Title
Authors
Ryan J. Stephens '16, Gettysburg College
Location
Breidenbaugh 205
Session
Multidisciplinary Panel I
Start Time
4-30-2016 10:30 AM
End Time
4-30-2016 11:45 AM
Supervising Faculty Member
Nathalie Lebon
Department
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Description
The project that I have done shows the importance of recognizing that male rape does exist and that it is more frequent than people think. By using Law and Order Special Victims Unit I am able to portray how myths about male rape are debunked and how the show creates new ways of thinking about male rape. Little research has been conducted about male rape and what we do know comes from the myths that are created in society and reinforced by false representations in the media. The research also concludes that we need more research to fully understand the prevalence and effects of male rape. I conducted a content and media of analysis of three episodes of Law and Order Special Victims Unit, in which the main focus was male rape by women. I have found that Law and Order Special Victims Unit fully represents the arguments surrounding male rape as well as the emotions that go into these discussions. In addition, this television show highlights the fact that these myths about male rape influence the way the police and judicial system interact with male victims and handle male rape cases. The literature that I have read about male rape and in the episodes that I have analyze have also shown me that the way the police and judicial system handles male victims influences the way victims talk to the police or decide to press charges against their attackers. The analysis of Law and Order Special Victims Unit in combination with the literature that I have read shows that male rape does not only happens in prisons or is committed by gay males.
Document Type
Student Research Paper
Included in
Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Film and Media Studies Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Television Commons
Analyzing Media Representations of Male Rape and Debunking Myths on 'Law and Order Special Victims Unit'
Breidenbaugh 205
The project that I have done shows the importance of recognizing that male rape does exist and that it is more frequent than people think. By using Law and Order Special Victims Unit I am able to portray how myths about male rape are debunked and how the show creates new ways of thinking about male rape. Little research has been conducted about male rape and what we do know comes from the myths that are created in society and reinforced by false representations in the media. The research also concludes that we need more research to fully understand the prevalence and effects of male rape. I conducted a content and media of analysis of three episodes of Law and Order Special Victims Unit, in which the main focus was male rape by women. I have found that Law and Order Special Victims Unit fully represents the arguments surrounding male rape as well as the emotions that go into these discussions. In addition, this television show highlights the fact that these myths about male rape influence the way the police and judicial system interact with male victims and handle male rape cases. The literature that I have read about male rape and in the episodes that I have analyze have also shown me that the way the police and judicial system handles male victims influences the way victims talk to the police or decide to press charges against their attackers. The analysis of Law and Order Special Victims Unit in combination with the literature that I have read shows that male rape does not only happens in prisons or is committed by gay males.
Comments
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Senior Capstone