Attitudes to rape: The media's role<\/p>\n
Angela Black, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Recently I was yet again appalled at media representations of
\nrape, when a local TV network accounted for the cause of sexual
\nviolence with this statement: \"Women walking at night should not
\nwear mini skirts in order to avoid rape\".<\/p>\n
This advice was not the result of research and evidence, but
\nof moralistic judgements ironically aimed at female victims. To
\nthe viewers the message that they obtain from this is that rape
\nhappens only to women wearing seductive clothing and that the men
\nwho commit rape are unable to control their desires as a result.
\nHence, rapists are the innocent targets of seduction by \"bad\"
\nwomen who lure otherwise good law-abiding citizens into
\ncommitting a sexual offence.<\/p>\n
Research into rape refutes that there is a necessary cause-
\neffect relationship between seductive clothing and sexual attack.
\nRather, experts argue that this sort of explanation is merely a
\nmyth established to justify female oppression through the control
\nof women's behavior.<\/p>\n
Although there can be no qualified data to support such an
\nexplanation of \"cause\", the reports of rape in the media continue
\nto reinforce ignorant attitudes. The Jakarta Post reported that a
\nman broke into a woman's house just after she had finished taking
\na bath. The man raped her. The Post felt it necessary to end the
\nreport by commenting that the woman was wearing no underwear
\nunder her sarong.<\/p>\n
As the inclusion of such information was irrelevant, what must
\nthe readership think? A woman was raped; she was improperly
\ndressed. Are we to believe that the woman was at fault? There are
\nstrong implications here and whether this was intentional or not,
\nthe media must accept more responsibility for the role it has in
\nshaping social attitudes.<\/p>\n
To target a woman as the guilty party in her own rape has
\ndangerous consequences, because as long as the \"cause\" is
\naccepted by society as being female seduction, then victims will
\nbe reluctant to come forward. They will fear that instead of
\nattaining legal and social justice, they will instead become the
\nobject of social condemnation, and accusations that they had
\nsomehow \"invited\" the rape. The knock on effect can only lead to
\na greater sense of impunity for sex offenders, and instead of
\npreventing rape, may well encourage it.<\/p>\n
Should they choose to, it is possible for members of the media
\nto make a positive contribution toward rape prevention, by first
\nchallenging their own preconceived ideas, and the way in which
\nthey report such incidents. They can begin by excluding
\nsuggestive \"victim-blaming\" remarks.<\/p>\n
As for the readership, we should all take a more active role
\nin rejecting or opposing damaging reports which promote prejudice
\nor sexual violence. Perhaps we should consider the following
\nadvice as an alternative to that offered above: Women of any
\ndescription should monitor the work of the media in order to
\nprevent rape, because we are all potential victims, and only
\nthrough actively working to change attitudes can we create a
\nsocial environment in which women are encouraged to seek justice.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/attitudes-to-rape-the-medias-role-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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