Media framing of sexual assault influences public perception of the crime. To date, most media coverage of sexual assault places the victim at the center of his or her victimization, and often implies that the victim was complicit in his/her own victimization. Facts-based, unbiased media coverage has the ability to both change public perception and influence public policy. Media coverage examples from both the United States and South Africa are compared and contrasted to support the latter statement.

1. Framing rape culture:
Media coverage of sexual assault in
the United States
and South Africa
Shelley Blundell

2.  “It’s not rape if” quiz on PollEverywhere.
 Please answer honestly – your responses are
anonymous.
 You may also choose not to participate –
no questions asked.
Before we begin …

3.  Sexual harassment/violence viewed as ‘normal,’ promoted
through media (think Terry Richardson and Miley Cyrus).
 Can affect men, but primarily seen as affecting women.
 Perpetuated through language (e.g. she was asking for it),
images, popular culture, and legal reactions to sexual violence.
 Focus on educating women how to avoid sexual assault, rather
than educating all people on how not to commit sexual assault.
What is rape culture?
Sources:
Upsettingrapeculture.com (2013)
Women’s Center, Marshall University (2012)

4. The United States

5.  About 300,000 women & 93,000 men are sexually
assaulted each year.*
 Based on “completed rapes” - has risen by 150,000
since 2000, accounting for men and women who
reported only.**
 Approximately 60% of sexual assaults are never
reported to authorities.***
Rape statistics: United States
Sources:
*Tjaden & Thoennes, 2006
**Rennison, 2002
***U.S. Department of Justice (2007) National Crime Victimization Survey.

6.  Approximately 1 in 4 college women will be sexually
assaulted during her academic life.
 Almost 9 in 10 sexual assault victims know attacker.
 Alcohol use is a major contributing factor in 50-75%
of college students’ sexual assaults.
Sexual assaults on
U.S. college campuses [1]
Sources:
Sarah Lawrence College, “Statistics about sexual assault and college campuses,” 2012
Kent State University Sexual Assault Response Team, “Statistics,” 2012

7.  48.8% of college women who had been the victim of a
sexual assault and participated in a 2000 U.S.
Department of Justice survey “did not consider what
happened to them rape”* …and further –
“In a survey of high school students, 56% of girls and
76% of boys believed forced sex was acceptable under
some circumstances.”**
Sexual assaults on
U.S. college campuses [2]
Sources:
*Bureau of Justice Stats. “Sexual Victimization of Collegiate Women,” 2000, US DOJ.
**Acquaintance Rape: The Hidden Crime, 1991.

8.  College basketball star heroically overcomes tragic
rape he committed. – The Onion (Satyr news site)
 CNN Reporter Sparks Outrage with Perceived
Sympathetic Coverage for Convicted Steubenville
Rapists. – Independent Journal Review (Media
watchdog site/blog)
Sexual assault coverage:
United States

9.  In March, 2013, Trent Mays (17) and Ma’lik Richmond (16)
were found guilty of “digital penetration” of a 16-year-old
girl in Steubenville, Ohio, on August 11, 2012.
 Mays given additional year for circulating a nude picture of
the victim via text messages and social media sites.
 Digital and social media played a large role in this case.
 How did the media react?
Let’s talk Steubenville [1]
Sources:
CNN.com, March 17, 2013

10.  “In a trial that divided the football-crazed Rust Belt town
of Steubenville, Trent Mays, 17, and Ma'lik Richmond, 16,
were found guilty of raping a drunk 16-year-old girl.” –
CNN, March 17, 2013
 The New York Times focused on the impact on the town
itself, as did Wall Street Journal articles and Fox News.
 Huffington Post/other non-mainstream news sources
instrumental in providing additional coverage of the case –
but this was not the media norm.
Let’s talk Steubenville [2]
Sources:
Informal analysis of coverage of the events surrounding Steubenville, especially the
Mays/Richmond trial, in major print and broadcast media outlets (done by Blundell).

11.  Geographical distance of sexual assault plays a role in who
the media favors in terms of coverage
 “… statistics show the press was more concerned with the
impact of the rape on the town than on the victim” (O’Hara,
2012, p. 252).*
 “The closer to home a sex crime occurred, especially when
the accused is someone well-known, or is literally cheered
on in the case of local athletes, then the harder it is for a
news outlet to cover it in a way that’s not reflexively
protective of the accused.”**
Historical precedent in the
literature [1]
Sources:
*O’Hara, 2012; ** Tenore, 2013*

12.  Media coverage of those involved has been shown to influence
public perception of people in sexual assault cases, as well.*
 E.g.: Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Duke LaCrosse players
 Additionally, media portrayal of crime of sexual assault can
impact public opinion leaders/policy-makers (Chicago case).**
 Portraying victims as innocent/complicit, or attackers as
‘monsters’ or wrongly accused, decreases public understanding
of realities of sexual assault.***
Historical precedent in the
literature [2]
Sources:
* Tenore, 2013
**Rye, Greatrix & Enright, 2006; ***O’Hara, 2012

13.  New Delhi case: Indian media coverage was ‘pro victim,’
reflected a definite shift away from typical coverage of
sexual assault in India.*
 But in the United States - historical precedent shows CNN,
Fox, New York Times and Washington Post coverage of
Steubenville was ‘business as usual.’**
 Media coverage can demystify sexual assault, and
influence legislation – therefore, the most responsible
reporting is that which is fact-based and unbiased.***
Concluding thoughts on U.S.
Sources:
Tenore, 2013; **O’Hara, 2012
***Rye, Greatrix & Enright, 2006

14. South Africa

15.  1 in 4 women have been raped (and half of these women will be
raped more than once).
 South African Police estimate only 1 in 36 rapes (around 2% of all
sexual assaults) will be reported to authorities.
 Of the almost 470,000 sexual offenses reported in South Africa
between 2011 and 2012:
 Children accounted for 40.1% of this statistic
 Women accounted for 48.5% of this statistic
 Men accounted for 11.4% of this statistic
Rape statistics: South Africa [1]
Sources:
South African Police Service, 2012; The Guardian, 2010; Washington Post, 2013

16.  In a 2010 S.A. government anonymous survey, one in three
men surveyed admitted to raping at least one person.
 35% of men and 22% of women surveyed stated:
 Women should be deferential to their husbands,
 Women could not refuse to have sex with their husbands, and
 In all rape cases, the ‘promiscuity’ of women should be
questioned before someone is charged with rape.
Rape statistics: South Africa [2]
Sources:
The Guardian, 2010

17.  “Has South Africa reached rape tipping point?”
 Intimate partner violence is the leading cause of death for
all women in South Africa (1 in 3 will die this way).*
 Some South African demographics:**
 Population: 50,586,757
 Approximately the size of Texas
 Four official race groups – Black, White, Indian, and Colored
(anyone considered to be of mixed ethnic heritage)
Sexual assault coverage:
South Africa [1]
Sources:
*NPR, 2013; **World Bank, 2013

18.  Some U.S. media agencies (e.g. Christian Science Monitor):
Sexual violence in South Africa as bad as it seems?
 South African Police (SAP): Sexual assault rates have fallen
in the last two years.
 Government-owned media agencies: Focus on SAP
‘bringing criminals to justice’ – whether this is true or not.
Sexual assault coverage:
South Africa [2]
Sources:
Informal analysis of sexual assault/violence coverage in South Africa – from major
print and broadcast media outlets (done by Blundell).

19.  Feb. 2, 2013 - 17-year-old Anene Booysen was sexually assaulted
and disemboweled by a former boyfriend and 5 others.
IDed attackers before dying of her injuries.
 Sympathetic S.A. media coverage of Booysen - atypical,
speculated because Booysen was mentally impaired and
because she died as a result of her injuries.
 S.A. media accused of underreporting statistics of sexual assault
there, writing off crimes as part of everyday life (except in cases
of physically/mentally impaired or child victims).*
Let’s talk Bredasdorp
Sources:
The Star, 2013; Informal analysis of sexual assault/violence coverage in South Africa – from major
print and broadcast media outlets (done by Blundell); *Martin, 2013

20.  Steenkamp was to speak at ‘Black Friday’ event, a national
protest against domestic/sexual violence in S.A., on Feb. 15.
 Four days before she was killed on Feb. 14, Steenkamp posted
the following on Twitter:
 “I woke up in a happy safe home this morning. Not everyone did.
Speak out against the rape of individuals in SA (South Africa.).
RIP Anene Booysen. #rape #crime #sayNO.”
 However - much S. A. media coverage of Pistorius/Steenkamp
case is largely sympathetic toward Pistorius (considers him
‘blameless’ in death of Steenkamp).
Cruel irony of ‘Black Friday’
Sources:
The Star, 2013; Daily Beast, 2013; Reuters, 2013; Washington Post, 2013

21.  Nationwide shortage of rape kits at police stations.
 Emerging tribal belief that sex with a virgin can cure a man of
HIV/AIDS has led to a dramatic increase in rape of girls under 12
in the last five years (affects babies, as well).*
 Gang-rape has become a common pastime for many young men,
who refer to it as “jackrolling.”**
 Current S.A. president Jacob Zuma accused and ‘acquitted’ of
sexual assault in 2005, before presidency in 2009.***
S.A. sexual assault realities
Sources:
Christian Science Monitor, 2013; Daily Beast, 2013; *Reuters, 2013;
**Stuijt, 2009; ***Washington Post, 2013

22.  Sexual violence an ‘accepted’ part of S.A. culture for many years,
across all cultural groups.
 Current political members (including the president) publicly
expressed negative sentiments toward
 a) women, and
 b) perceptions of sexual assault as being ‘unprovoked’
(claim victim is implicit in own assault, or assault was avoidable).
 Global coverage of sexual violence in S.A. can change both
public perception and legal reaction (e.g. Black Friday protest).
Concluding thoughts on S.A.

23.  Changing media language = changing public perception.
Changing media coverage of sexual assault can help decrease
‘rape culture,’ raise awareness of true nature of sexual assault.
 Can equitable media coverage/exposure make lawmakers more
accountable? Absolutely.
 SA: Limpopo - new law to test accused rapists for HIV; charge with attempted
murder if they are found to be positive based on Bredasdorp coverage.*
 USA: Online petition with 70,000 signatures spurred creation of Grand Jury in Ohio
for other social media ‘offenses’ in Steubenville.**
Thinking globally, acting locally
Sources:
*Washington Post, 2013; **Los Angeles Times, 2013

24.  If you have been sexually assaulted:
https://cmsprod.uis.kent.edu/about/offices/sart/gethelp/fo
rmyself/index.cfm
 If someone you know has been sexually assaulted:
https://cmsprod.uis.kent.edu/about/offices/sart/gethelp/fo
rfriend/index.cfm
 If your partner has been sexually assaulted:
https://cmsprod.uis.kent.edu/about/offices/sart/gethelp/fo
rmypartner/for-my-partner.cfm
Getting help

25. Questions?

26.  Almasy, S. (2013, March 17). Two teens found guilty in Steubenville rape case. Retrieved from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/17/justice/ohio-steubenville-case
 Barnett, B. (2008). Sports talk: How the news media framed the Duke University Lacrosse case. Conference Papers -- International Communication Association, 1-31.
 Beaujon, A. (2013, Jan. 8). Challenges journalists are facing while covering the Steubenville, Ohio, rape. Retrieved from the Huffington Post: http://www.poynter.org/latest-
news/mediawire/199911/the-challenges-journalists-are-facing-while-covering-the-steubenville-ohio-rape/
 Brown, R. L. (2013, Feb. 22). Briefing: How violent is South Africa? Retrieved from the Christian Science Monitor: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2013/0222/Briefing-How-violent-is-
South-Africa
 Cropley, E. (2013, Feb. 6). South African 17-year-old dies of gang rape injuries. Retrieved from Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/06/us-safrica-rape-idUSBRE9150VZ20130206
 Curnow, R. (2013, Feb. 9). Outrage grows over gang rape, slaying of teen girl in South Africa. Retrieved from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/08/world/africa/south-africa-gang-rape
 Dean, M. (2013, Jan. 11). The lessons of Steubenville. Retrieved from the New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2013/01/the-lessons-of-steubenville.html
 Dewey, C. (2013, March 5). South Africa, once called ‘the world’s rape capital,’ is running out of rape kits. Retrieved from the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/03/05/south-africa-once-called-the-worlds-rape-capital-is-running-out-of-rape-kits/
 Dissell, R. (2013, Jan. 21). Defense lawyer in Steubenville rape case objects to use of ‘victim’ to describe teen girl. Retrieved from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/01/defense_lawyer_in_steubenville.html
 Faul, M. (2013, March 8). South Africa violence against women rate highest in world. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/08/south-africa-violence-against-women_n_2837804.html
 Force. (2013). Upsetting rape culture. Retrieved from http://www.upsettingrapeculture.com/rapeculture.html
 Guarino, M. (2013, Jan. 9). Ohio town, reeling from rape case, sets up website. Can it influence coverage? Retrieved from the Christian Science Monitor:
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=84745903&site=ehost-live.
 Macur, J., & Schweber, N. (2013, Dec. 16). Rape case unfolds on web and splits city. Retrieved from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/sports/high-school-football-
rape-case-unfolds-online-and-divides-steubenville-ohio.html?pagewanted=all&_r=3&
 Martin, M. (2013, Feb. 28). Has South Africa reached rape tipping point? Listen to the Story. Podcast retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2013/02/28/173151756/has-south-africa-reached-
rape-tipping-point
 McCarthy, J. (2013, Feb. 15). ‘One Billion Rising’ campaigns to end violence against women. Retrieved from NPR: http://www.npr.org/2013/02/15/172078654/indias-one-billion-rising-
campaign
 McKaiser, E. (2013, Feb. 10). South Africa rallies against fatal gang rape. Retrieved from The Daily Beast: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/10/south-africa-rallies-against-fatal-
gang-rape.html
 Muskal, M. (2013, Jan. 24). Steubenville rape case: Online petition, 70,000 strong, seeks justice. Retrieved from the Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-
na-nn-steubenville-rape-case-petition-20130124,0,862046.story
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27.  O’Hara, S. (2012). Monsters, playboys, virgins and whores: Rape myths in the news media’s coverage of sexual violence. Language and Literature, 21, 247-259. doi:
10.1177/0963947012444217
 Porter, C. (2013, Feb. 21). In South Africa simply being female spells premonition for attack. Retrieved from The Star:
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/02/21/in_wake_of_oscar_pistorius_case_killed_his_girlfriend_reeva_steenkamp_in_a_country_where_being_a_woman_in_south_africa_is_eno
ugh_to_get_you_raped_and_killed_porter.html
 Protess, D. L., Leff, D. R., Brooks, S. C., & Gordon, M. T. (1985). Uncovering rape: The watchdog press and the limits of agenda setting. Public Opinion Quarterly, 49, 19-37.
 Rennison, C. M. (2002). Rape and sexual assault: Reporting to police and medical attention, 1992-2000. Retrieved from the Bureau of Justice Statistics:
http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsarp00.pdf
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 Serino, K. (2013, Feb. 9). In South Africa, a brutal rape sparks unusual proposal. Retrieved from the Christian Science Monitor: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2013/0219/In-South-
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 Sexual Assault Response Team at Kent State University. (2012). Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.kent.edu/sart/geteducated/statistics.cfm
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