In 2015, Brock Turner, a Stanford College scholar, was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious lady behind a dumpster. The case drew nationwide consideration and sparked outrage because of the lenient sentence Turner acquired: six months in county jail and three years of probation.
Through the trial, Turner’s dad and mom, Dan and Carryl Turner, made a number of public statements that additional infected the general public’s anger. They expressed sympathy for his or her son and criticized the sufferer, arguing that she was partially chargeable for the assault as a result of she had been ingesting. Their feedback have been broadly condemned as victim-blaming and insensitive.
The Turner dad and mom’ conduct throughout the trial and within the aftermath has led to a lot dialogue in regards to the function of privilege and entitlement within the prison justice system. Some have argued that the Turners’ wealth and social standing allowed them to downplay the seriousness of their son’s crime and to reduce the hurt he had brought about.
brock turner dad and mom
Rich, privileged, and entitled.
- Sufferer-blaming.
- Insensitive feedback.
- Downplayed son’s crime.
- Minimized sufferer’s hurt.
- Lack of accountability.
- Perpetuation of rape tradition.
- Image of injustice.
- Catalyst for change.
- Reminder of privilege’s function in justice.
The Brock Turner dad and mom’ conduct has sparked a nationwide dialog about sexual assault, victim-blaming, and the function of privilege within the prison justice system.
Sufferer-blaming.
Sufferer-blaming is a standard and dangerous response to sexual assault. It includes putting the blame for the assault on the sufferer, reasonably than on the perpetrator. This may take many kinds, similar to suggesting that the sufferer was “asking for it” by dressing provocatively, or that they need to have been extra cautious to keep away from being assaulted.
Within the case of Brock Turner, his dad and mom engaged in victim-blaming by suggesting that the sufferer was partially chargeable for the assault as a result of she had been ingesting. This can be a traditional instance of victim-blaming, because it shifts the main focus away from the perpetrator’s actions and onto the sufferer’s conduct.
Sufferer-blaming is dangerous as a result of it retraumatizes the sufferer and makes it much less doubtless that they may come ahead and report the assault. It additionally sends the message that sexual assault is in some way the sufferer’s fault, which might make it harder for victims to heal and transfer on.
The Turner dad and mom’ victim-blaming feedback have been notably egregious as a result of they have been made in a public discussion board, throughout their son’s trial. This gave their feedback a wider viewers and made them much more dangerous to the sufferer.
Sufferer-blaming isn’t acceptable. You will need to do not forget that sexual assault isn’t the sufferer’s fault. If you happen to or somebody you already know has been sexually assaulted, there are sources out there to assist.
Insensitive feedback.
Along with their victim-blaming feedback, Brock Turner’s dad and mom additionally made numerous different insensitive and hurtful remarks.
-
They in contrast their son’s assault to “a nasty night time out.”
This remark trivializes the seriousness of sexual assault and fails to acknowledge the lasting hurt that it might probably trigger.
-
They mentioned that their son “made a mistake.”
This assertion means that sexual assault is a minor offense, reasonably than a severe crime.
-
They expressed extra concern for his or her son’s future than for the sufferer’s well-being.
This can be a clear indication of the place their priorities lie.
-
They steered that the sufferer was in some way chargeable for the assault as a result of she was intoxicated.
This can be a traditional instance of victim-blaming.
The Turner dad and mom’ insensitive feedback brought about additional ache and outrage for the sufferer and her supporters. In addition they demonstrated an entire lack of expertise in regards to the seriousness of sexual assault and the impression it might probably have on victims.
