Abstract
This chapter reports on linguistic and multimodal analyses of rape trials to achieve two goals. First, it considers research that has investigated acquaintance rape trials and demonstrated that the kinds of questionable cultural assumptions found in the decisions of some juries and judges also circulate within trials. In particular, defense lawyers in criminal rape trials have been shown to strategically draw upon cultural mythologies surrounding rape as a way of impeaching the credibility of complainants. Second, it considers research that explores the possibility that the kinds of cultural mythologies drawn upon by judges, juries and defense lawyers in rape trials can be contested. Because of its adversarial nature, the rape trial provides a unique forum for investigating ways that dominant notions of sexual violence are reproduced as well as ways they might be resisted and challenged.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
