Inexcusable oversight

Recently Ezra Klein (An American blogger) wrote an article (via) on a topic which doesn't get the importance it deserves, and whatever it deserves is in horribly perverted. It is prison rape, to be precise, prison rape for male convicts.

What piqued me was it reminded me of an article I read in Reader's Digest long back which recounted the horror of American penal system. Now while the articles concerns America and I don't have the information pertaining to India, (although it goes without saying that Indian penal system is bound to be far from perfect ) what I find striking is the following two general but somewhat related aspects.

One from my general knowledge, despite this being a very grave violation, and one that can be stopped, no serious efforts by authorities are forthcoming. The reason for this is authorities consider rape as a serious deterrent against crime. Now this may seem to be logical if seen in light of male fear of being raped, I am not sure empirical data will support the premise. But, to me its effectiveness is least of my problem. By allowing this to happen the authorities are allowing the scarring of victim's psyche by trauma of experience, beyond repair. Which means that when the victim prisoner comes out of prison, he can not be rehabilitated in the society, for he has lost the self esteem, and any with that any measure of respect for society at large. Instead what we have is a mistrustful, even a sociopath, who proceeds to destroy himself and takes society along with him. Speaking even broadly, the society which tolerates such an atrocity loses its moral authority, and its member mutual respect, and consideration for fellow men.

Second is how is this a source of humour (example this video). Now it can be argued that humour is derived from the fact that the wicked are getting their rewards, however if retribution was the source then perhaps it would apply in case of females. However, to best of my knowledge, it isn't. I suspect, some kind of psychology has a role here. Perhaps the idea that it is considered humourous has to do is similar to previous point that that actually males have deep psychological fright of the possibility, which is why it is kind of black humour something on lines of gallows humour, or cannibal jokes. Anyhow notwithstanding any humorous aspect, the issue deserves attention according to its importance.

PS. Are there studies on whether sexual molestation is more traumatic for males or for females. I think it should be males, but this is just a conjecture.

PPS. In the analogous case for females, the reaction is changed. Instead of humour, it becomes a subject of fantasy.