This article attacks the media for the use of lurid but tittilating language such as ‘sex slave’ when referring to victims of kidnapping who have been sexually abused by their captors. She notes that the ‘serious’ American press gave the story a brief mention on the front page, while the British press had pages of the most lurid and intrusive coverage; the Murdoch-owned New York Post did similarly. (The Sun, the biggest-selling British tabloid, is owned by Murdoch.)
She finishes off by asking,
Her disappearance may have been public knowledge, but now that her fate is known, why doesn’t she get the same protection as other rape victims?
To be honest, I’m not sure if that’s entirely feasible — there are anonymity laws in the UK and USA which prohibit the identification of a rape victim without their consent, but when the victim’s identity is already known, it’s difficult to back-pedal and make everyone forget who the victim is. Still, they should not be feeding public appetites for such intimate and salacious details. As for “why didn’t she leave”, perhaps she wanted to leave only with her daughters, and could not guarantee their safety, or ever seeing them again, if she fled?
This reminds me of a case which took place in Hastings, south-east England, a number of years ago, in which two ten-year-old girls were kidnapped and held for several days before being found. On being found, they were paraded in front of the cameras and asked, among other things, what they missed most about being away from home; only later did it emerge that both girls had been raped.
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Tags: jaycee lee dugard
As for why she did not leave, other than your reasons, you need look no further than the Stockholm syndrome where Jaycee Lee Dugard is listed as an example.
I know that IndogoJo feels that all females automatically always don’t want to be raped; however it is not uncommon in kidnap situations for the victim to develop affection towards the person holding them.
This does not detract from the ordeal, but might explain the choices the victims make and the resultant press interest.
I think the reason is because she didn’t want to lose her two kids. He could have easily threatened her, perhaps shamed her into thinking that no one would want her after what she’s done with him, even if he has done it to her. I’m sure she was clearly brainwashed, into believing that.
Even that movie based on a true story, “I Know My First Name is Steven.” the kid stayed with his kidnapper, as he posed as his father, for years before he turned him in and reunited with his family.