Allegedly

Posts so far have particularly focussed on ‘victim blaming’. In this post I want to highlight another recurring problem with the media – the use of the word allegedly.

Now I don’t generally have a problem with referring to someone who has been accused of, arrested for or charged with a crime (but not convicted) as an alleged criminal. I am aware that, as with other crimes, a person can be accused of a rape they didn’t commit (and often for reasons other than a malicious complaint).

However, in newspaper reporting of rape cases, they often go one step further. Not only do they refer to the alleged perpetrator, but also the alleged victim, and the alleged crime – like here, for example. This doesn’t seem to apply to other crimes. How often have you heard the newspapers refer to an ‘alleged burglary’ or an ‘alleged murder’?

The implication goes beyond a non-presumption of guilt, and moves into questioning whether the event actually happened. This is not being careful not to incorrectly tarnish someone’s character, but is casting doubt on the character and truthfulness of the person who reported it – usually the survivor and reinforcing the idea that women can’t be trusted to tell the truth about these issues.