In the last few years, the national press has lavished coverage on several major sex-related scandals: the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill hearings, the William Kennedy Smith rape trial, and the Mike Tyson case. With each event came lurid stories pitting either a loose or virginal woman against an unwilling or monstrous man. Such extreme coverage, argues Helen Benedict, perpetuates myths that are harmful to victims of these crimes (and sometimes to the accused).
In Virgin or Vamp Benedict examines the press's treatment of four notorious sex crimes from the past decade--the Rideout marital rape trial in Oregon, the Big Dan's pool table gang rape in Massachusetts, the "Preppy Murder" in New York City, and the Central Park jogger case--and shows how victims are labelled either as virgins or vamps, a practice she condemns as misleading and harmful. Benedict also looks at other factors that perpetuate the misunderstanding of rape. For instance, she shows how the New York press presented the Central Park jogger rape case as motivated by racism because of its unwillingness to consider rape an issue of gender. She also addresses our inherent language bias, the press's tendency to use sexually suggestive language to describe crime victims, and its preference for crimes against whites. In conclusion, Benedict offers a number of solutions that will help reporters cover these increasingly common crimes without further harming the victims, the
defendants, or public understanding.
Industry Reviews
"An essential expose of rape myths in print journalism....She provides extremely comprehensive overviews and analyses of coverage in both the mainstream and the alternative press, indelibly raising the consciousness of her readers....There is as much for the general reader in this readable and incisive book as there is for the academic theorist or professional journalist."--Jane Caputi, The Women's Review of Books
"Helen Benedict calmly and crisply dissects the way misogyny and ignorance shape media coverage of crimes of sexual violence--biases that have increased during the past decade....A great gift for the journalists on your list--and to go by recent headlines, the judges and senators, too."--Katha Pollitt, The Nation
"Makes a powerful case for a new approach to the coverage of sex crimes by daily newspapers."--The New York Times Book Review
"This outstanding book should be required reading for all media people."--Publishers Weekly
"An essential purchase for communications and women's studies collections."--Library Journal
"Helen Benedict brilliantly analyzes the many ways in which the media perpetuates myths and stereotypes about rape. Elegantly written and carefully documented, Virgin or Vamp should be required reading for journalists -- and the rest of us."--Katha Pollitt, writer, The Nation
"Helen Benedict has done a fine job in uncovering bias and misinformation in news reports of some well-known rape cases. Virgin or Vamp will be a valuable aid wherever journalism is taught."--Susan Brownmiller, author of Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape
"Long Dong Silver. The rape trials of Willie Smith and Mike Tyson. Harassment and violence against women are more reported than ever, but public response, including press coverage reveals that many people still believe women provoke abuse--that punishment is their deserved condition. Helen Benedict's Virgin or Vamp could not be more timely and tough-minded. She peels back the myths that steer supposed objective journalism, never stinting on lively
prose of the hidden injuries to women."--Laurie Stone, columnist, Village Voice
"Since Helen Benedict is both an authority on rape and a distinguished journalist, she is uniquely qualified to examine how journalists usually cover sex crimes. Her analysis of the biases and blunders of the press is thorough, lucid, and utterly persuasive....Virgin or Vamp is an exceedingly important book--necessary reading for conscientious reporters and editors, and for everyone concerned about the quality and fairness of what the press sees fit
to print."--Ann Jones, author of Women Who Kill
