Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Lynne Walter" <>]

Hi all,

 

Yes, we did catch the recent "parody" on SNL.  I am including NCCASA's
response to SNL-please feel free to send in your own letters, too!  You
can also submit comments via email at:
http://www.nbc.com/Footer/Contact_Us/ ;

 

Thanks!

 

Lynne Walter, MSW

Prevention Education Coordinator

North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault

183 Wind Chime Court, Suite 100

Raleigh, NC 27615

(919) 870-8881

1-888-737-CASA

(919) 870-8828 (fax)



www.nccasa.org

www.teencasa.org

 

SAVE THE DATE!

NCCASA 18th Biennial Conference

May 7-9, 2007  Raleigh, NC

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

NCCASA RESPONSE

 

Mr. Bob Wright

Vice Chairman and Executive Officer, NBC Universal

NBCUNI.COM FEEDBACK

100 Universal City Plaza

Universal City, CA 91608

 

December 18, 2006

 

Dear Mr. Wright:

 

Saturday Night Live is traditionally known for being on the cutting edge
of sketch comedy and has, over the years, been very astute at
highlighting the absurdity of many aspects of politics and culture.

 

However, the recent "A Holiday Message from Nancy Grace" sketch that
starred Amy Poehler and addressed the gang rape at Duke University
(Saturday, December 16, 2006) was neither cutting edge, comedic, nor
astute.

 

Rape is not funny.  Rape is a serious crime, a serious public health
concern, and a serious public safety concern.  According to the U.S.
Department of Justice, from 2004-2005 there were over 200,000 survivors
of rape/sexual assault in the United States.  These numbers do not
include the number of children under 12 who are raped, as the U.S.
Department of Justice does not keep statistics on child victims.

 

Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Justice states that rape and sexual
assault are the most underreported violent crimes-only 30-38% of rapes
and sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement.  The actual number
of survivors of rape and sexual assault is, therefore, significantly
higher due to this elevated level of underreporting.

 

When survivors do report, they are retraumatized because they have to
tell their story over and over to numerous law enforcement, medical, and
judicial personnel, and because society does not believe survivors and
blames them for what happened.  Rape is about power and control and is
never the fault of the survivor-it is the fault of the rapist who
decided to rape and who decided to exert power and control over someone
else.

 

Another myth about rape that your sketch attempted to find humor in is
the myth that women falsely report rape.  In reality, less than 2% of
reported rapes are false, which is the same rate for other violent
crimes (US Department of Justice).  There is a widely held belief that
women "cry rape," when, in fact, the opposite is true.

An additional rape myth is one that is reinforced by the racism that
runs rampant in our popular culture: the myth that African American
women are purely sexual objects, and, therefore, are not human and ask
to be raped.  Furthermore, the stigmatization of sex work encourages a
cultural climate in which many men treat the abuse of sex workers
casually and where perpetrators of abuse do not expect to be held
accountable for their crimes.  

 

By constantly referring to the survivor as an exotic dancer or stripper,
instead of a woman or a human, you are perpetuating the belief that
women of color and sex workers deserve to be raped.  Simply because a
woman is African American or her work involves her sexuality and her
body does not mean she should feel less safe than the rest of society.
No one deserves to be raped, regardless of race, occupation, or class.

 

I am also disappointed that, with the number of women who are involved
with SNL, you would make fun of a serious crime that disproportionately
affects women.  The vast majority of survivors of rape and sexual
assault are women: in 2005, 92% of survivors who reported being raped
were women (U.S. Department of Justice).

 

Public opinion surrounding this case is reinforcing rape myths and
increasing confusion about the seriousness of this injurious crime.  By
choosing to make light of a serious violation of human rights that
affects millions of women every year, you helped support and perpetuate
these myths and confusion.  

 

The high profile nature of this case offers the opportunity for the
media to educate the public about the devastating effects of rape, where
to receive assistance, and how to prevent sexual violence.  Until all of
us take responsibility for challenging the intersecting forms of
oppression that reinforce and condone sexual violence, we cannot hope to
end rape and sexual assault.

 

Sincerely,

 

Lynne Walter, MSW

Prevention Education Coordinator

North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault

183 Wind Chime Court, Suite 100

Raleigh, NC 27615

1-888-737-CASA (2272)

 

-----Original Message-----
From: 

[mailto:]
 On Behalf Of Michelle N.
Issadore
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 10:44 AM
To: 

Subject: Saturday Night Live sketch regarding Duke case

 

Hello all,

 

Did anyone happen to catch this Nancy Grace "parody" with Amy Poehler's
character pretending to defend the survivor in the Duke lacrosse case?
It sends a major, negative message about victim-blaming in an _ongoing
_criminal case. I was disgusted and plan to use the clip to spark
discussion with my peer educators. If anyone has any thoughts on a
response to SNL, please get in touch with me. I'd love for them to hear
that advocates are following this case and that they grossly
misrepresented the facts.

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jQe40ycRQ0s

 

Thanks,

Michelle

 

-- 

Michelle N. Issadore

Sexual Violence Prevention Coordinator

Lehigh University Women's Center

University Center Room C201A

29 Trembley Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015

(610) 758-5808; (610) 758-6164 fax