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

[Michael Domitrz <>]

Well stated, Wendy.

Your Fan,
Mike Domitrz
http://www.DateSafeProject.org
Direct Line: 414-852-4926

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On Oct 11, 2010, at 9:37 AM, 

 wrote:


In your recent story regarding the rape of an underage minor, you  
characterized the activity as involving "sex", and that the vicitm had  
a "sexual relationship" with the perpetrator.

"Rape" is a crime - "sex" is not.  Rape can never be sex, and vice  
versa.

I realize you may not want to use harsh language or pass judgment in  
your story - but that means NOT using erotic terminology - and words  
of pleasure, as such language conveys non-criminal activity.

I run a first-of-its-kind program at my law school called "The  
Judicial Language Project", where we use socio-linguistic research to  
critique the language used in law and society to describe violence  
against women and children.  In connection with this work, I've also  
trained with the Poynter Institute to train journalists.

The research is compelling that erotic, vague, blaming language and  
even passive voice - all cause harm to the goal of conveying correctly  
the violent nature of sexual crimes.  This is particularly true for  
children given their legal incapacity to consent.  Your phraseology  
that the girl "had sex with him" is a classic example of putting the  
victim in the active role of "having sex".  A correct approach would  
say "the perpetrator raped (or penetrated or sexually abused, etc) the  
victim" as this puts the offender in the active role and the reader  
sees him as being the primary responsible party in the harm-doing.   
Your language has him in the story as a passive recipient of her  
actions.

Thank you for your time.

Wendy Murphy
New England Law|Boston



Police report Darrin E. Marshall, 43, last known address 66 E. Shields  
St., forced the 15-year-old girl to have sex with him after she  
returned from school one day last fall, according to the affidavit for  
his arrest.

They continued a sexual relationship until May, the affidavit said.  
She reportedly did not want to have sex with Marshall, a family  
acquaintance who was visiting, but did not protest and allowed him to  
"do as he wished," according to the affidavit.

The girl's grandmother contacted Newark police June 5 after the girl  
told her about the allegations, Newark police Sgt. Scott Snow said.

Marshall denied having sex with the girl in a June interview. He  
requested an attorney after he was arrested Thursday, so police did  
not question him further, according to the affidavit.