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View Full Version : Sex crime victims being named in the media

ShyGuyInChicago
May 18th, 2011, 11:40 PM
Virtually every reputable news organization has a voluntary policy that was once legally enforced in some: When reporting sex crimes they do not release the victim's name or picture. The reason is to protect the victims' privacy. The idea is that sex crime victims are often in a state of shame after being attacked and should be able to heal privately. It is also said that with privacy, victims will be more likely to report crimes committed against them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/05/julian-assange-sex-crimes-anonymity

Personally, I feel that sex crimes victims should not be named in the news on they want to be. Being sexually victimized is very traumatic probably moreso than other crimes, and I can understand how the trauma would be magnified if your face was in the media and everyone knew what happened to you. Above is a link of an activist for women's issues who feels otherwise and that sex crime victims should be named in the media.
Iceman
May 18th, 2011, 11:47 PM
Just to clear things up. What's the question here to debate?
ShyGuyInChicago
May 19th, 2011, 12:16 AM
Just to clear things up. What's the question here to debate?

Do you agree with sex crime victims not being named in the media?
Sith Lord 13
May 19th, 2011, 02:02 AM
Do you agree with sex crime victims not being named in the media?

I don't think you'll find anyone to disagree with you on that.
ShyGuyInChicago
May 19th, 2011, 09:03 PM
I don't think you'll find anyone to disagree with you on that.

OK then what about people accused of committing sex crimes not being named unless the police needs to public's help to bring them to justice. It can be argue that merely being accused of a sex crime can ruin one's life.
bleedoutlove
May 20th, 2011, 04:56 PM
My opinion is that by default, sexual assault/rape victims should not be named, but if they want to be named, ie as part as their healing experience, or to raise awareness etc, they can be named. It would be an invasion of privacy not to give a choice, or to go ahead with it anyway.
Sith Lord 13
May 21st, 2011, 04:34 AM
OK then what about people accused of committing sex crimes not being named unless the police needs to public's help to bring them to justice. It can be argue that merely being accused of a sex crime can ruin one's life.

A much more interesting debate. Make a new thread for it.
ShyGuyInChicago
May 21st, 2011, 04:38 PM
I don't think you'll find anyone to disagree with you on that.

Also what about making it illegal to name sex crime victims. I do not think there would be a need because people already do it voluntarily. Also I think some people could argue that naming them could ease the stigma of being raped and that not naming victims sends the message that being victimized is something to be ashamed of and that such victims should be hidden from the world.
Sith Lord 13
May 22nd, 2011, 04:04 AM
Also what about making it illegal to name sex crime victims. I do not think there would be a need because people already do it voluntarily. Also I think some people could argue that naming them could ease the stigma of being raped and that not naming victims sends the message that being victimized is something to be ashamed of and that such victims should be hidden from the world.

That's why it shouldn't be illegal and should be up to the victim.
ShyGuyInChicago
August 29th, 2011, 03:26 PM
That's why it shouldn't be illegal and should be up to the victim.

I hope it is okay to bump my own thread, but I meant to say that some people might argue it should illegal name sex crime victims without consent.

What about the other potential arguments against not naming sex crime victims without consent.
TheMatrix
August 30th, 2011, 01:50 AM
Yeah, you can bump your own thread.
Jess
August 30th, 2011, 03:49 PM
They should not be named unless they want to be named.
ShyGuyInChicago
August 31st, 2011, 01:18 PM
They should not be named unless they want to be named.

To make this thread more interesting, I will play devil's advocate and argue against the the predominant view on this issue to determine how strong the arguments can be. How would you respond to someone who says that naming sex crime victims could ease the stigma of sex crimes and can send the message that being victimized is not something to be ashamed of? One could argue that not naming sex crime victims suggests that being victimized is something that is shameful and should be obscured.