Lots of folks have been outraged by the NYT coverage of a gang rape in Texas. The coverage veered often and unnecessarily into blame-the-victim territory. The NYT has defended their story, saying they were just reporting what victim-blamers in Texas were saying, not blaming the victim themselves.
I won’t rehash the many sensible objections to the article (though I am glad to hear so many voices raising them). I want to hash something else.
On this blog and others, people have often argued that there’s a double-standard at the Times for reporting on rape. We’d never name and show the picture of a 9-year-old rape victim in the States, many said in response to a Nick Kristof column that did just that.
But you know what else we don’t do? Host petitions that get 27,000 signatures demanding an apology for poor journalism about rape, and poor treatment of its victims, in places like Liberia, Congo or Haiti.
And the double standard multiplies…
Excellent point Jina on the double standard related to the outcry in rape reporting. I would say that is just as prevalent across other issues which impact both the US and developing nations. Our problems will always seem to matter just a bit more. I am glad you pointed this out as I never thought of it in these explicit terms.