Content Warning: This story contains discussions of sexual assault.
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“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” is one of the most iconic television shows in American history — it’s shooting its 25th season — largely because it holds the record for the longest-running primetime live-action series in the history of American television, according to Cosmopolitan.
While that is an impressive record in its own right, my awe for the show lies in its premise: New York detectives working to solve sexually based offenses — something viewers are reminded of each time they watch the show as this is stated in the opening credits.
A true crime case inspired the premise of the show, known as “The Preppie Murder,” in which Robert Chambers strangled and killed a woman he was dating, Jennifer Levin, during an instance that he described as consensual “rough sex” in Central Park, New York.
U.S. television producer Dick Wolf, who created the original “Law & Order” series, decided that a crime show that focuses specifically on crimes with a sexual element, namely sexual assault, would make for an interesting show. Thus, the spin-off was born.
Throughout each episode, the detectives show that sexual assault is reprehensible and that no person, regardless of their previous sexual history, relationship to their perpetrator or even line of work, should feel as though an assault was warranted.
What I find to be particularly comforting is how the main characters, particularly Detective Olivia Benson, played by Mariska Hargitay, staunchly defend the survivors. It remains her priority to protect and defend them and ensure that they get justice.
Prior to the creation and airing of “Law & Order: SVU”, there had never been a show that was dedicated to solving sexual assault crimes.
I believe a reason that so many women enjoy the show is that this is a crime show in which the majority of the victims are women, and they are treated with fairness and respect — an experience that is not a given for women who find themselves in need of assistance from police in real life.
The show’s consistent messaging — that a sex crime is not the victim’s fault, and no behavior warrants assault — serves as an important tonal shift. The popularity and success of the show suggest that this messaging reaches a wide audience and has hopefully dispelled many of the harmful stereotypes used against survivors of sexual assault.
Besides being the face of the show, actress Mariska Hargitay has taken on important work to help survivors in her personal life. In 2004, she founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, which offers resources to survivors and their families such as access to therapy.
In addition to the creation of Joyful Heart, in 2017, Hargitay produced a documentary called “I am Evidence” about the backlog of untested rape kits and how this provides a barrier for survivors of rape to seek justice. In many ways, Hargitay has become the face of sexual assault justice in the United States.
Even in its pilot season, the show has always taken great care to handle the topic of sexual assault delicately, thoughtfully and respectfully, which greatly benefits the show’s viewers, especially those who have experiences with sexual assault.
In my experience it has been cathartic to watch other people receive justice for the crimes that were inflicted upon them, even if they are TV show characters. I credit a lot of this thoughtfulness to Neal Baer, who served as the showrunner and an executive producer from season two until season 12 of the show.
Baer has spoken publicly about feeling grateful that the show explores sensitive topics that had never had air time on tv such as “the backlog of rape kits, HIV deniers, and transgender children,” according to an interview he gave on the show Break It Down.
The way key players from the show, like Harigtay and Baer, took the opportunity to use “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” to continue to spread awareness about sexual assault and the misunderstandings around it demonstrates the power of storytelling with a purpose.
The decision to center “Law & Order: SVU” around getting justice for the victims of sexual assault, no matter what circumstances, is the result of a conscious effort to destigmatize sexual assault and dispel the harmful narratives around it in culture.
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Contact Fiona Creadon via email: fiona.creadon@pepperdine.edu or on Instagram: @Fiocreao
