The strange, twisted psychology of women who marry death-row inmates.
This is an article written by a news journal, available in both print and and on the web that prides itself as being “a journal of opinion which seeks to meet the challenge of a new time in America.” ( Although if I’m not mistaken, this article was written by a British author for a British News Media site.) “The New Republic is the voice of creative thinkers, united by a collective desire to challenge the status quo.” (The author of this particular article shows no true “creative” thinking and I see no trace of a desire to challenge the status quo.) Overall this article is one that needs to be picked through and the useful information extracted out and away from the authors own, very obvious, opinion. If someone told me my grandmother wrote this article, recklessly and without research, I would believe it.
I’m a young-ish, white, American woman who had a relationship with a man for years prior to his arrest, “trial”, conviction and death row sentence and, 15 years after the fact. our relationship continues on beautifully to this day. It’s downright hysterical to think anyone looks at me and sees me as “a poor woman suffering from mental and physical ill-health.” Get a grip, Julie. I do appreciate that Ms.Bindel took the time to tell the tale of the Death Row Groupies from her country. The hordes of women from the UK flocking to America’s Supermax facilities in search of their Romeo is a very real thing. I don’t mind them. I’ll stand beside them but make no mistake, I may be what you call a “Veteran” but these “Death Row Divas” are so far below me, I almost need to scrape them off my stilettos on the curb like one would scrape dogshit off their shoe.
-V
“The class privilege is all too apparent, as is the eroticization of “otherness” and the image of the caged beast looking for its savior. It is easy to tell the “death row divas” from the veterans. The women who have been with the men from before their convictions often appear to be poor and suffering from mental and physical ill-health. The tourists are sweet-smelling, well dressed and, invariably, white. They talk of having “rescued” men whom no one else wants.” - Julie Bindel (the “disgusted” author of this article)