As the twenty-first century moves further into a digital age, society has become increasingly more aware and informed about various social issues. Namely, views on child abuse, specifically, have come to light, shaping how many are viewing the past.
The definitions of abuse have expanded over time to include not just physical violence, but also emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse. Social media movements such as“#MeToo” have brought to light the stories of survivors and challenged the societal norms that previously silenced victims of abuse. In recent months, the hit Netflix special series “Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story” has brought the infamous high-profile case of the late eighties to the spotlight once again: the Menendez case. As a result of its popularity, “Monsters” has given the Menendez case a fresh look from Gen Z.
After killing their parents in 1989, the Menedez brothers were convicted in 1996, attracting a great deal of public attention. During their trial, the media primarily viewed the Menendez brothers as cold-blooded murderers. Despite the brothers testifying that they lived in a household with sexually, physically, and emotionally abusive parents, which induced the murders, society still lacked understanding of abuse. With a better understanding of the alleged abuse, many people now consider the brothers as victims of severe abuse who were trying to protect themselves.
These new perceptions regarding abuse are now translating to the court system. In the Menendez’s case, the public attention and insistence for justice by the new generation, has advanced their process for re-sentencing. The District Attorney, George Gascón, at a press conference regarding sentencing on October 24, 2024 said “even though this case was already scheduled to be heard in late November, I decided to move [the conference] forward because quite frankly, we did not have enough resources to handle all the requests.” Not only are these modernized views affecting the public’s views on notorious cases, but how they challenge and pressure the legal system to take action. This has prompted the aspiration for the Menedez brothers, despite being originally convicted of murder, to walk free much within the next few years.
