I have to admit, or perhaps I should say boast, that I paid no attention to the Depp/Heard trial. People are fascinated by celebrities and somehow their commonplace and tawdry doings are big news. Unfortunately, however, because of the fame of the protagonists this case becomes a template for the entire society. I didn't see any of the testimony and I don't know exactly why the jury rules as it did. but as E.J. Dickson argues, the result is likely disastrous for women who are abused and choose to come forward. I don't know for sure if that's true. While women are usually at a disadvantage in these situations because of misogyny and assumptions deeply embedded in the culture, Depp's fame and charisma are a unique factor, and some other famous men have not gotten away with it.
Be that as it may, we don't like to think about it, but couples, households, and families are the setting for most of the violence in our society. We notice the violence that happens in public but that creates a distorted view. About 1 in 5 homicide victims, and half of all female victims, are killed by an intimate partner. Furthermore, the majority of mass murders are family murders.
Obviously, the vast majority of intimate partner and family violence incidents do not culminate in murder. The statistics on the prevalence of intimate partner violence are appalling. I'm not going to recite them but you can read it here. Women are more often victimized but men can be as well. Of course it's difficult to sort out defensive from aggressive acts, and this becomes controversial in criminal justice. Women have been convicted of murder or assault in situations in which self defense seems a plausible defense; the social class and race of the woman probably influences how she is treated.
I don't feel the need to say more about this right now. Yes, the availability of guns is a big issue here as well. Having a gun in the household makes you far less safe. That's just a fact. But that's not the main issue here as far as I'm concerned. I may say more soon.
2 comments:
I am fascinated with the concern of the overall social impact of this case that you're expressing. and how it might not serve an agenda...in this case the #metoo movement or the women's movement in general. Stop, already!!
The courts are the place where facts are examined and the case is supposed to be decided on the merits without consideration of whether or not future accusers may not be believed or whether this decision would lead to a hesitancy of victims to come forward, etc.
Politics should not enter the courtroom.
You are rather obviously missing the point. The case should be decided on the merits, yes. The question here is whether it was, and whether politics did in fact influence the jury. Many observers believe the answer is yes.
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