Gender-based violence (GBV) is not just a personal or isolated issue; it is deeply embedded in societal norms, with media playing a critical role in either reinforcing harmful stereotypes or challenging them. From news coverage to movies, advertisements, and social media, the way GBV is represented significantly impacts public perception, policy-making, and the lived realities of survivors.
- Framing Women as Perpetual Victims: The media often portrays GBV as an issue affecting only women, reinforcing the stereotype that men are always perpetrators. While women are disproportionately affected, this one-sided representation silences male survivors and excludes other gender identities from the conversation.
- Sensationalizing GBV Cases: News reports and entertainment content sometimes focus more on the sensational aspects of GBV, such as graphic details, victim-blaming narratives, and perpetrator glorification, rather than addressing the systemic issues that enable violence.
- Justifying or Romanticizing Abuse: Popular media, especially movies and television, sometimes depict controlling behaviors, coercion, or emotional abuse as signs of passion or love. This normalizes toxic relationships and discourages victims from recognizing abuse.
- Lack of Representation for Marginalized Groups: The media often neglects to highlight GBV cases involving marginalized communities, including people with disabilities and those in lower socioeconomic groups, making their struggles invisible.
- Balanced and Inclusive Storytelling: Responsible journalism and content creation should include diverse narratives that recognize GBV can affect anyone, regardless of gender, while also addressing the unique ways different groups experience violence.
- Holding Perpetrators Accountable: Instead of focusing solely on victims, the media should shift the lens toward accountability, exploring the root causes of GBV, legal consequences, and rehabilitation efforts for perpetrators.
- Empowering Survivors: Media should highlight survivor resilience and recovery rather than portraying them solely as helpless victims. By sharing survivor-led initiatives, legal victories, and community support stories, the narrative shifts from despair to empowerment.
- Promoting Educational and Preventative Messaging: Campaigns, documentaries, and fictional content can be used to educate audiences about consent, healthy relationships, and the importance of bystander intervention. The media has a platform to change cultural attitudes toward gender and violence.
The media holds immense power in shaping public perception. By being more intentional in the narratives it crafts, it can shift from being a vehicle for harmful stereotypes to a powerful tool for change. Responsible storytelling, diverse representation, and survivor-centered reporting are critical in reshaping societal norms and fighting against GBV.
The question remains: How can we, as media professionals and consumers, ensure that we challenge stereotypes rather than reinforce them?
