Rape and the Culture of the Courtroom

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Law, Gender & the Law
Cover of the book Rape and the Culture of the Courtroom by Andrew E. Taslitz, NYU Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Andrew E. Taslitz ISBN: 9780814783429
Publisher: NYU Press Publication: June 1, 1999
Imprint: NYU Press Language: English
Author: Andrew E. Taslitz
ISBN: 9780814783429
Publisher: NYU Press
Publication: June 1, 1999
Imprint: NYU Press
Language: English

Rape law reform has been a stunning failure. Defense lawyers persist in emphasizing victims' characters over defendants' behavior. Reform's goals of increasing rape report and conviction rates have generally not been achieved. In Rape and the Culture of the Courtroom, Andrew Taslitz locates the cause of rape reform failure in the language lawyers use, and the cultural stories upon which they draw to dominate rape victims in the courtroom.
Cultural stories about rape, Taslitz argues, such as the provocatively dressed woman "asking for it," are at the root of many unconscious prejudices that determine jury views. He connects these stories with real-life examples, such as the Mike Tyson and Glen Ridge rape trials, to show how rape stereotypes are used by defense lawyers to gain acquittals for their clients.
Building on Deborah Tannen's pathbreaking research on the differences between male and female speech, Taslitz also demonstrates how word choice, tone, and other lawyers' linguistic tactics work to undermine the confidence and the credibility of the victim, weakening her voice during the trial. Taslitz provides politically realistic reform proposals, consistent with feminist theories of justice, which promise to improve both the adversary system in general and the way that the system handles rape cases.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Rape law reform has been a stunning failure. Defense lawyers persist in emphasizing victims' characters over defendants' behavior. Reform's goals of increasing rape report and conviction rates have generally not been achieved. In Rape and the Culture of the Courtroom, Andrew Taslitz locates the cause of rape reform failure in the language lawyers use, and the cultural stories upon which they draw to dominate rape victims in the courtroom.
Cultural stories about rape, Taslitz argues, such as the provocatively dressed woman "asking for it," are at the root of many unconscious prejudices that determine jury views. He connects these stories with real-life examples, such as the Mike Tyson and Glen Ridge rape trials, to show how rape stereotypes are used by defense lawyers to gain acquittals for their clients.
Building on Deborah Tannen's pathbreaking research on the differences between male and female speech, Taslitz also demonstrates how word choice, tone, and other lawyers' linguistic tactics work to undermine the confidence and the credibility of the victim, weakening her voice during the trial. Taslitz provides politically realistic reform proposals, consistent with feminist theories of justice, which promise to improve both the adversary system in general and the way that the system handles rape cases.

More books from NYU Press

Cover of the book Culture Jamming by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book The Psychological Foundations of Evidence Law by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book Biocitizenship by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book Permanent Waves by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book The Unpredictable Constitution by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book The American Title Insurance Industry by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book Pagan Family Values by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book Torah Queeries by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book When Gay People Get Married by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book A Troubled Marriage by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book Beyond the Shadow of Camptown by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book The Latino Nineteenth Century by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book Truth, Autonomy, and Speech by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book Sustainability by Andrew E. Taslitz
Cover of the book Children, Sexuality, and the Law by Andrew E. Taslitz
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy