Rape V. Murder, Which is Worse?

Rape. A commonly used word in today’s social circles.  It is a word full of hate and negative energy. It is full of different connotations to different people.  All over the world today rape is frequently discussed as being the victim’s fault, as if the victim “asked for it” by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or by dressing provocatively. Typically, when people think of rape, their minds run wild, yet have one common belief: rape only happens to women, which is inherently false. Men are victims of rape, too.

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The tale of a woman who began getting raped at the age of sixteen, has gone viral on social media as a case that is vastly popular and gaining national attention. This tale is of Cyntoia Brown, a girl who escaped further victimization through sex trafficking by killing one of her pimp’s clients. She believed that by killing this man, she would be able to escape sex trafficking, and that she would be free from further harm.  However, she could not be more wrong, Brown was tried as an adult for killing the client, and was sentenced to life in prison for literally fighting for her freedom.  This leads to the question of Rape V. Murder, Which is Worse?

On the internet, a hashtag of #freecyntoiabrown has been a commonly used tag amongst several notable celebrities and the general public. Kim Kardashian has now hired her personal lawyers to help defend Brown in a trial. Kardashian is not alone in her support of Brown.  Other big name celebrities, such as Rihanna and LeBron James, have also reached out.  Women’s rights groups are outraged.

Brown is not the only woman to have recently sparked debates about rape. Other women, including a number of celebrities, have recently come forward, courageously, naming people who have sexually harassed them, including Hollywood actors and producers, senators, congressmen, and even the President of the United States. This outcry against violence towards women is clearly becoming a movement. Women are empowered and gaining the confidence to voice their concerns and problems. People are using their powerful voices as this issue is rapidly gaining attention in society, following the Deprivation Theory, which entails a strong social movement.

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The way in which the accused rapists are dealt with, in the court of public opinion, is sometimes sad, as often they are not even actually charged, although their reputation is permanently tarnished.  Still, many of the accused are aware of the deviance of their actions and have used intimidation tactics and social or political power to  keep their victims quiet.  If one applies Durkheim’s Deviance Theory, he or she would see that the flaw in our so called “social fabric,” and primarily with the rapists, needs to be repaired through rehabilitation. These accused rapists are obviously not beneficial members of society, as they can not stay within the unspoken rules of social norms. In order for these people to be able to live peacefully in society, substantial rehabilitative measures would be essential in order to transform them back into productive, non-harmful citizens.