The concept of a rape script really intrigues me. I am
intrigued by Marcus’s proposal that a rape script can aid in the prevention of
sexual assault and that by noticing the signs you may begin to interrupt it. Yet
the script that Marcus’ proposes can only accurately predict very specific
instances of sexual assault to a specific demographic.
My critique of Marcus’ rape script are varied. Most obvious
are the ways this script refute individual agency. First through the assumption
that all experiences can be truncated into a series of steps or patterns to the
overwhelming responsibility yet lack of agency afforded to individuals. Second,
this particular script focuses on the experiences of heteronormative,
cis-gendered individuals. And due to Marcus’ lack of specific discussion on the
script and its context, the script itself can only be helpful in dissecting situations
between strangers but not partners or acquaintances. Therefore the script
leaves out the lived experience of all other individuals, from those of
different genders to those of different socio-economic backgrounds and racial
identity.
I personally do believe there exists a rape script, in which
popular opinion and law enforcement continually use to discredit survivors and
their experiences. This is already evident within the police force and their
screening process when hearing from survivors. Within popular television shows,
literature, and comedy rape myths are utilized to further trivialize sexual assault
whilst demonizing survivors. This is made possible only because there are
certain linguistic and bodily cues people have come to recognize as symbolic of
sexual assault. The success of television shows and movies that depict implicitly
(or explicitly) sexual assault are due precisely to the subconscious understanding
that rape ‘should’ happen in a certain way.
That being said I still believe there is merit to seeing
rape through the context of a script, I think it would be more helpful to use
it to illustrate how perpetrators are socialized to accept the plausibility of
sexual assault. Although Marcus’ piece was directed at rape prevention from the
standpoint of survivors, I believe it could be an effective tool to understand
the ways society and popular culture have inundated the minds of perpetrators.
This socialization is exactly through the repetitive use of a rape script in
pornography, literature, comic books, and movies to make acceptable sexual assault
overall.
I really appreciate the application of the rape script you proposed in this entry. Identifying and articulating the rape script in order to recognize ways in which it is produced in media and through various forms of socialization is a fantastic way to acknowledge its existence and work to challenge the script while also avoiding victim blaming. Creating a narrative in which women are not perceived as passive or inevitable victims is an important element of overcoming rape culture. I tend to think that altering elements of socialization requires action from individuals coupled with more macro level efforts, however, there is never a “correct” way to respond to perpetrators. “Interrupting the rape script” by challenging the aggressor becomes another arbitrary rule that is not guaranteed to work. This limits individual ability to consciously and consistently interrupt the rape script. This may pose a challenge when attempting to alter the socializing power of the rape script.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to think about how the use of the rape script in media reinforces the normalization of sexual assault, as you're exploring here. I feel like there also exists an almost converse effect of the prevalence of these kinds of narratives. In certain instances of rape, it is scripted as a horrible transgression, but this is only ever the case when it happens to a very specific few bodies. Those people who do not meet the standards of the ideal victim more often than not become receivers of responsiblization and secondary victimization because of the ways in which they are understood to deviate from the narratives which dictate what sexual assault "really" looks like. I think it's important to consider that on top of any sort of intentional or deliberate efforts made to interrupt the rape script, it is perpetually being complicated by the very existence of non-normative bodies.
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