Journal article
Intersectionality and Credibility in Child Sexual Assault Trials
Gender & society, Vol.31(4), pp.457-480
08/01/2017
DOI: 10.1177/0891243217716116
Abstract
Children remain largely absent from sociolegal scholarship on sexual violence. Taking an intersectional approach to the analysis of attorneys' strategies during child sexual assault trials, this article argues that legal narratives draw on existing gender, racial, and age stereotypes to present legally compelling evidence of credibility. This work builds on Crenshaw's focus on women of color, emphasizing the role of structures of power and inequality in constituting the conditions of children's experiences of adjudication. Using ethnographic observations of courtroom jury trials, transcripts, and court records, three narrative themes of child credibility emerged: invisible wounds, rebellious adolescents, and dysfunctional families. Findings show how attorneys use these themes to emphasize the child's unmarked body, imperceptible emotional responses, rebellious character, and harmful familial environments. The current study fills a gap in sexual assault research by moving beyond trial outcomes to address cultural narratives within the court that are inextricably embedded in intersectional dimensions of power and the reproduction of social status.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Intersectionality and Credibility in Child Sexual Assault Trials
- Creators
- Amber Joy Powell - University of MinnesotaHeather R. Hlavka - Marquette UniversitySameena Mulla - Marquette University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Gender & society, Vol.31(4), pp.457-480
- Publisher
- Sage
- DOI
- 10.1177/0891243217716116
- ISSN
- 0891-2432
- eISSN
- 1552-3977
- Number of pages
- 24
- Grant note
- SES-1250606; HR-2224 / National Science Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/01/2017
- Academic Unit
- Sociology and Criminology; Center for Social Science Innovation
- Record Identifier
- 9984306249302771
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