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Rape Trauma, The State, And The Art Of Tracey Emin, Yxta M. Murray
Rape Trauma, The State, And The Art Of Tracey Emin, Yxta M. Murray
Yxta M. Murray
Prosecutors use “rape trauma syndrome” evidence at rape trials to explain victims’ “counterintuitive” behaviors and demeanors, such as their late reporting, rape denials, returning to the scenes of their attacks, and lack of emotional affect. Courts and experts, in instructions and testimony, usually describe victim reticence as a product of “shame” or “trauma.” Feminist critics of R.T.S. evidence posit that the syndrome’s profile is based on incomplete evidence, because most rapes are unreported. Furthermore, they object to its condescending, sexist, and colonial construction of rape victims and their emotions. In this Article, I respond to feminist critics by studying the …
Rape Trauma, The State, And The Art Of Tracey Emin, Yxta M. Murray
Rape Trauma, The State, And The Art Of Tracey Emin, Yxta M. Murray
Yxta M. Murray
Prosecutors use “rape trauma syndrome” evidence at rape trials to explain victims’ “counterintuitive” behaviors and demeanors, such as late reporting, denying their rapes, returning to the scenes of their attacks, and lack of emotional affect. Courts and experts, in instructions and testimony, usually describe victim reticence as a product of “shame” or “trauma.” Feminist critics of R.T.S. evidence posit that it is based on incomplete evidence, because most rapes are unreported. Furthermore, they object to its condescending, sexist, and colonial construction of rape victims and their emotions. In this Article, I respond to feminist critics by studying the work of …