Depiction Of Violence Against Women

483 Words2 Pages
In today’s information society, the media – notably television, radio, newspapers and internet – have become the most pervasive socializing agents. What is depicted in the media is often perceived as normative, and tends to define the standards by which people relate in society. Consequently, any portrayals of violence, particularly against women, will tend to perpetuate the existing gender inequalities and the traditional subordination of women in Ghanaian society. Research around the world has shown that the manner in which the media over the past years depict violence against women has some adverse effects on not only women but the society as a whole. These adverse effects manifest not only in physical harm, but more insidiously – and perhaps even more dangerously – in psychological harm. The media depicts such violence in soap operas, films and newspapers. The major problem surrounding the manner in which the media depicts such stories can be summed up as follows: 1. Headlines usually obscure the crime or blame victims for the crime; 2. Stories sometimes highlight that the victim or perpetrator was drunk, sexually provoked, or otherwise impelled by some other extenuating circumstance. In effect, the perpetrator is exonerated; or his crime is mitigated. 3. The media often distorts the issue. Psychologists have shown that media coverage on violence against women, for example rape, become some sort of second assault all over again to victims who are healing from the crime, simply due to the insensitive nature the media uses in publishing names, pictures and other violations of privacy. It is believed that this in some way reinforces stereotypes, through the focus on the appearance of victims. Research shows that the media repeatedly gives women submissive, silenced and even victimized roles and this has led women to be perceived as objects. Laila Al Shaikhli,

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