dr julie chalder-mills school of applied social sciences
TRANSCRIPT
The Role of SOTP in the Identity Work of Convicted
Rapists
Dr Julie Chalder-MillsSchool of Applied Social Sciences
The Research
The Researched
SOTP and Identity
Identity Work
The Findings
Research Over-view
To Explore the Language of Convicted Rapists- Their Identity as ‘men’, ‘rapists’, ‘denial’ and ‘heterosexual
entitlement’
Life History Research- Context of Interviews – location – prison time
Key Tenets of Feminist Standpoint – ‘Listening’ to the ‘Marginalised’
- Making the ‘invisible’, ‘visible’ – Men & Women
Key Experts in the Field- valid ‘knowledge’
The Research
Six Men - biographies
‘Stranger’ Rapists ‘Partner’ Rapists ‘Stigmatised’ Identities
The Researched
SOTP Language ‘Treatment’ - ‘cure’ or ‘panacea’ – fix the problem
Pathological vs Social (Identity) Identity fixed for life - Sexual Danger Coping Strategies – Relapse Prevention ‘Distorted Thinking Patterns’ ‘Avoidance’ Strategies
Reconstruction – Renegotiation – Resurrection
- Idealised identity
SOTP and Identity
Stigma and the Renegotiation of identity- Normal…CRITICALLY…Not Monster
Heterosexual Practice, Identity, Ideology and Experience:
Entitlement – ‘Rights Based Relationships’, i.e. ‘normal’
‘Language of Denial’- Victim Blaming…Essential in Identity Work
Deflection- Stigma …heterosexual practice, ideology, institution and identity –
the holy grail of ‘normal behaviour…Maintains Blame Culture …
Identity Work
‘Stigmatised/Spoiled Identities’ - Far reaching consequences – loss – stigma – challenged identities – beyond the
bounds of the men’s lives
Rape/Rapist – Victim/not - Stereotypes / Sexuality
Rape Myths- normal/abnormal – Madonna/whore
Investment- credibility/respect –
Reconstruction - holy grail – ‘normalisation’
Identity Work
Victim Blaming ‘If I find out you’re lying to me and who he is, I’m going to kill
him…’ Brian ‘If she had just done what she was told…and not embarrassed
me…’ Eddie ‘It was the nature of her ‘job’ and therefore it is a ‘risk’ she
must know she is taking…therefore she knows that when she approaches me…what is coming her way is all her own fault…’ Andrew
‘She had no self respect…she was wearing skimpy shorts and top and [was] alone with me …she had to be punished’ Abdullah
‘She consented…she did…I gave her until I’d finished my cigarette to make up her mind…’ Francis
The Findings
Heterosexist Language
…Only Words…’bitch’…’slag’…’whore’…’liar’…’immoral’
…Sticks and Stones May Break my Bones…’that’s not me’
…Mud Sticks…’truth’…’respectability’: - researcher/researched relationship – ‘being heard’
…Just Boys doing Business ‘just doing what two twenty-year olds do…’
…Linguistic implication of heterosexist language?
The Findings…
Language - Communicates Behaviour Belonging Sense of Self Sense of ‘reality’ and ‘truth’
SOTP and ‘distorted thinking’ Ignores/avoids individual agency Victim Blaming Status Quo Requires Challenge to encourage Change
Concluding Thoughts
