Content Warning: Sexual Assault
Ronny's answer to the question "Why this play now?" inspired me to do quite a lot of thinking over the past several days. Previously, my answer to “why this play now?” Had been a rather limited scope. In my post about the motive at Dan White, I discussed briefly the concept of Dan White not being an isolated incident in terms of violent crimes committed by white men. In particular, I touched on the concept of “Male Grievance Culture” being linked to mass shootings. In the article I linked earlier, there is a quote: “Whether you’re talking about male entitlement, or white entitlement or Christian entitlement,” Madfis said, “if you don’t get the American dream, that seems like a more profound or unexpected loss than for other communities that have lived with entrenched poverty or things like that.”
I think it is worth elaborating on my original point, and using the case of Brock Turner to tie it into Ronny's post. Men who commit violent crimes and receive lighter sentences – if they are even caught and sentenced at all – often are portrayed as either mentally ill, having diminished capacity in some form possibly under the influence of alcohol, or generally painted by acquaintances and maybe family as a “good guy” or at least a mediocre one. Like the trial of Dan White, there’s often belief that these men could not possibly done such a thing for any other reason than that they cracked under some sort of pressure. News media after shootings often tried to depict the disproportionately white men commit these crimes as mentally ill. Likewise, in the case of a lot of sexual assault cases, which are already rare enough to go to trial, white men especially affluent white men receive preferential treatment. In the case of Brock Turner there was a clear divide. There was also quite a lot of evidence of preferential treatment, though the judge that sentenced him denied it. However, for Brock Turner’s sentencing he received only six months in a county jail (three if he had good behavior) in the requirement he be registered as a sex offender. Judge Aaron Persky, explained the decision: “A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him… I think he will not be a danger to others." The supposedly impartial judgment seems based only on the “character” of Brock Turner; that he was a white athletic young man.
For me, the #MeToo movement is speaking out against another facet to this concept of male entitlement, on a just as serious level as gun violence. In Ronny’s words: “In the film industry, Harvey Weinstein's trial is ongoing. However, in the world of politics, accused men like Brett Kavanaugh and Donald Trump either never go to court, or are hastily cleared of accusations due to them being "a good guy".” This is, while not overwhelmingly positive statement for our society, a wonderful example of the system that allows what are considered legally violent crimes to be brushed off as “boys being boys” or “locker room talk”, and the prioritization of those with the most privilege.
With this in mind I did a little bit of research into the rates of conviction for sexual assault, and found these infographics very useful:
While Dan White committed a different type of violent crime to sexual assault or rape, Ronny’s post helped me fully develop my thoughts on how the story of the trial of not only Dan White but also the city of San Francisco can still be seen in our media today… Even when there is not a total parallel. The conviction rate versus the reported crime rate versus the actual perpetration estimate of sexual assault puts into stark relief the failings of our criminal justice system, and makes the question of “why this play now?” Answerable in a rather straightforward manner for me.
Execution of Justice is relevant now quite simply because we have not learned our lesson just yet. While the #MeToo movement is a great step forward in terms of starting social conversations that have previously been put on hold for years, social change is a slow-moving thing which requires constant feeding. Continuing to feature in our entertainment similar abuses of power to those we see in the news enables us to think about our society and the lessons we may or may not have learned, potentially in new ways. Emily Mann features not only the trial of Dan White in this play, but a trial also of people of San Francisco and by extension our society at large.
For 06 March.
Comentários