Why Does Popular Culture Treat Prison Rape As a Joke?

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Believe it: There exists a board game called "Don’t Drop the Soap" in which players are tasked with fighting their way through a prison. John Sebelius designed it as a student at the Rhode Island School of Design. He is the son of Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services.

Gillius, Inc., the company selling Sebelius’ game online, promises a certificate of authenticity to the first 3,000 purchasers of the game that invites players to "steal painkillers from the nurse's desk in the Infirmary, avoid being cornered by the Aryans in the Shower Room, fight off Latin Kings in Gang War, and try not to smoke your entire stash in The Hole.

"The artistry of each handcrafted piece is matched with comparable humor & intelligence on every card. Stack your smokes, sharpen your shank, and get ready for an experience that only someone on the outside could appreciate." So goes the game’s promotional copy.

It’s certainly not the first time that rape in prisons is spun for humor (though perhaps it’s the first time that such humor is alleged as intelligent). Untold numbers of YouTube videos, Hollywood movies, and late night talk show monologues play off the soap meme. Meanwhile, Andy Borowitz just released the "Bernie Madoff edition" of his 2003 book, Who Moved My Soap?: The CEO's Guide to Surviving Prison.

This cartooning of abuse renders moot any sensitive and serious response to it. It’s also unique to abuse among male inmates; the ubiquitous caricature comes alongside a relative silence about rape in women’s prisons. There’s no soap-dropping counterpart "joke" referring to the abuse of female inmates. Ultimately, these distorted punch-line/silence memes enforce each other and perpetuate the reality of prison rape.

This isn’t news to Just Detention International, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. Once known as Stop Prison Rape, the survivor-led organization has challenged the perceptions, practices, and consequences of rape in prisons for twenty-nine years.

"Humor is part of the cultural attitude that (prison) is the one place where rape is okay," said Linda McFarlane, JDI’s deputy executive director.

McFarlane added that, "Jokes target the pain of a particular group of people and dehumanizes them. … It layers the discourse with a veil of acceptance."

http://www.alternet.org/story/141594/why_does_popular_culture_treat_prison_rape_as_a_joke?paging=off

[decocker 7,198]

if a man lands himself in prison, he's asking for it.

[^_^ 5,021]

if a man lands himself in prison, he's asking for it.

You are despicable!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

if a man lands himself in prison, he's asking for it.

Exactly! If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

[quote name=' timestamp='1363791606' post='6060987]

Believe it: There exists a board game called "Don't Drop the Soap" in which players are tasked with fighting their way through a prison. John Sebelius designed it as a student at the Rhode Island School of Design. He is the son of Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services.

Gillius, Inc., the company selling Sebelius' game online, promises a certificate of authenticity to the first 3,000 purchasers of the game that invites players to "steal painkillers from the nurse's desk in the Infirmary, avoid being cornered by the Aryans in the Shower Room, fight off Latin Kings in Gang War, and try not to smoke your entire stash in The Hole.

"The artistry of each handcrafted piece is matched with comparable humor & intelligence on every card. Stack your smokes, sharpen your shank, and get ready for an experience that only someone on the outside could appreciate." So goes the game's promotional copy.

It's certainly not the first time that rape in prisons is spun for humor (though perhaps it's the first time that such humor is alleged as intelligent). Untold numbers of YouTube videos, Hollywood movies, and late night talk show monologues play off the soap meme. Meanwhile, Andy Borowitz just released the "Bernie Madoff edition" of his 2003 book, Who Moved My Soap?: The CEO's Guide to Surviving Prison.

This cartooning of abuse renders moot any sensitive and serious response to it. It's also unique to abuse among male inmates; the ubiquitous caricature comes alongside a relative silence about rape in women's prisons. There's no soap-dropping counterpart "joke" referring to the abuse of female inmates. Ultimately, these distorted punch-line/silence memes enforce each other and perpetuate the reality of prison rape.

This isn't news to Just Detention International, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. Once known as Stop Prison Rape, the survivor-led organization has challenged the perceptions, practices, and consequences of rape in prisons for twenty-nine years.

"Humor is part of the cultural attitude that (prison) is the one place where rape is okay," said Linda McFarlane, JDI's deputy executive director.

McFarlane added that, "Jokes target the pain of a particular group of people and dehumanizes them. … It layers the discourse with a veil of acceptance."

http://www.alternet....joke?paging=off

Are we talking about real rape here. be clear

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Are we talking about real rape here. be clear

well, the rape in question can't possibly result in pregnancy so maybe it isn't rape.

[decocker 7,198]

[quote name=' timestamp='1363792736' post='6061026]

well, the rape in question can't possibly result in pregnancy so maybe it isn't rape.

a male heterosexual ####### has ways to shut that whole thing down.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

This is neither political or religious. Please move to Off Topic. On second thought, why not move the entire P&R forum to OT? That way the threads wouldn't mysteriously be moved under the cloak of darkness.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

This is neither political or religious. Please move to Off Topic. On second thought, why not move the entire P&R forum to OT? That way the threads wouldn't mysteriously be moved under the cloak of darkness.

Tbone gets paid by the move, so don't be messing with somebody's rice bowl!

[decocker 7,198]

This is neither political or religious.

rape is political.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

rape is political.

It is not. It is a crime.

[decocker 7,198]

It is not. It is a crime.

seems to have quite an effect on the political careers of some.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

seems to have quite an effect on the political careers of some.

While quite true, I can't see the topic pertaining to the true nature of the P&R forum, hence I am greatly disturbed by it being here.

[^_^ 5,021]

While quite true, I can't see the topic pertaining to the true nature of the P&R forum, hence I am greatly disturbed by it being here.

Do you feel violated?

[decocker 7,198]

While quite true, I can't see the topic pertaining to the true nature of the P&R forum, hence I am greatly disturbed by it being here.