The Role of SOTP in the Identity Work of Convicted Rapists

1. The Role of SOTP in the Identity Work of Convicted Rapists Dr Julie Chalder-Mills School of Applied Social Sciences

2. Research Over-view • The Research • The Researched • SOTP and Identity • Identity Work • The Findings

3. The Research • To Explore the Language of Convicted Rapists • Their Identity as ‘men’, ‘rapists’, ‘denial’ and ‘heterosexual entitlement’ • Life History Research • Context of Interviews – location – prison time • Key Tenets of Feminist Standpoint • – ‘Listening’ to the ‘Marginalised’ - Making the ‘invisible’, ‘visible’ – Men & Women • Key Experts in the Field - valid ‘knowledge’

4. The Researched • Six Men - biographies • ‘Stranger’ Rapists • ‘Partner’ Rapists • ‘Stigmatised’ Identities

5. SOTP and Identity • SOTP Language • ‘Treatment’ - ‘cure’ or ‘panacea’ – fix the problem • Pathological vs Social (Identity) • Identity fixed for life - Sexual Danger • Coping Strategies – Relapse Prevention • ‘Distorted Thinking Patterns’ • ‘Avoidance’ Strategies • Reconstruction – Renegotiation – Resurrection - Idealised identity

6. Identity Work • Stigma and the Renegotiation of identity - Normal…CRITICALLY…Not Monster • Heterosexual Practice, Identity, Ideology and Experience: • Entitlement – ‘Rights Based Relationships’, i.e. ‘normal’ • ‘Language of Denial’ - Victim Blaming…Essential in Identity Work • Deflection - Stigma …heterosexual practice, ideology, institution and identity – the holy grail of ‘normal behaviour…Maintains Blame Culture …

7. Identity Work • ‘Stigmatised/Spoiled Identities’ - Far reaching consequences – loss – stigma – challenged identities – beyond the bounds of the men’s lives • Rape/Rapist – Victim/not - Stereotypes / Sexuality • Rape Myths - normal/abnormal – Madonna/whore • Investment - credibility/respect – • Reconstruction - holy grail – ‘normalisation’

8. The Findings • Victim Blaming • ‘If I find out you’re lying to me and who he is, I’m going to kill him…’ Brian • ‘If she had just done what she was told…and not embarrassed me…’ Eddie • ‘It was the nature of her ‘job’ and therefore it is a ‘risk’ she must know she is taking…therefore she knows that when she approaches me…what is coming her way is all her own fault…’ Andrew • ‘She had no self respect…she was wearing skimpy shorts and top and [was] alone with me …she had to be punished’ Abdullah • ‘She consented…she did…I gave her until I’d finished my cigarette to make up her mind…’ Francis

9. The Findings… • Heterosexist Language • …Only Words…’bitch’…’slag’…’whore’…’liar’…’immoral’ • …Sticks and Stones May Break my Bones…’that’s not me’ • …Mud Sticks…’truth’…’respectability’: - researcher/researched relationship – ‘being heard’ • …Just Boys doing Business ‘just doing what two twenty-year olds do…’ • …Linguistic implication of heterosexist language?

10. Concluding Thoughts • Language - Communicates Behaviour • Belonging • Sense of Self • Sense of ‘reality’ and ‘truth’ • SOTP and ‘distorted thinking’ • Ignores/avoids individual agency • Victim Blaming • Status Quo • Requires Challenge to encourage Change

11. And Finally…. • Any Questions? • j.e.chalder-mills@dur.ac.uk