Myths in Media Reporting on Sexual Violence against Women - Literature review Example

Harmful Myths in Media Reporting on Sexual Violence against Women Affiliation Myths in Media Reporting on Sexual Violence against Women Sexual violence over the years has been mostly directed towards women. Women are recorded as the highest victims of sexual violence. Consequently, men are perceived as the cause of sexual violence against women. The crime of sexual violence generally describes the act of acquiring sexual occurrences against the will of the victim. The definition has, however, enlarged to include activities that may have the slightest sexual offence against a person. The reporting on sexual violence in women has been shadowed by existing myths on the definition, nature and intent of sexual violence. These myths hinder the way in which the sexual violence against women is viewed as relevant or significant in regards to understanding the impact it has on the victims. This paper will analyse the harmful myths that affect the effectiveness of the media reporting on sexual violence against women. Myth I: Sexual Assault is not about Violence but the Lust in Men that cannot be controlled In an argument by Grubb & Turner (2012) men are mythically viewed as sexual oriented beings at a larger extent more than women. For this reason, men are viewed to have a difficulty in controlling their sexual urge. This myth eliminates violence as an effect of sexual assault as sex is the main intent of sexual assault. This is, however, not the case as most victims of sexual assault are diagnosed with bodily harms that are not sex oriented. For instance, women are usually battered before they are assaulted. In severe cases, many women have lost their lives as caused by violent approaches leading to sexual assault. The myth is also highlighted by Gill (2007) who is of the assumption that violence in sexual assault is not viewed as a significant issue as the sexual activity. The author further points out that the myth hinders the effective understanding of the intent of the offender (Gill, 2007). The effect of the myth in reporting on sexual assault is significant. The media mostly focuses on the sexual part of the assault and ignore the violence involved. The signs of violence are cited as part of the bigger picture which is the uncontrollable lust in men (Gill, 2007). The media also portrays men as sexual figures other than driven by the need to violently assault women. From these assumptions, the violence associated with sexual assault is not represented as relevant a feature of sexual violence against women. Myth II: The Victim, Women, Provoke and Influence Sexual Assault This myth is created from the depiction of women as sexual targets. Kitzinger (2009) asserts that the myth sexualizes women and portray men as unable to control their sexual lust may justify the offense of sexual assault. The society views the behaviour and appearance of women as provocation to rape. For instance, women who are assaulted while attending parties are viewed as deserving to the act. In addition, women who are assaulted while in the company of the offender at their house are branded with a similar perception. In an argument by Dawson & Johnson (2011) the society is the greatest cause of this social control. The author further points out that; women have the freedom to be at any place, and taking part in any fun activity as men (Dawson & Johnson, 2011). For this reason, justifying the act of sexual assault by the behaviour of the victim is not appropriate. In regards to appearance, women who dress provocatively are branded as potential victims to rape. However, the freedom of expression is provided to any person regardless of their sexual orientation. This should not be used as an excuse by a man to sexually assault a woman. The media is highly influenced by this notion. In the instance where a woman is raped in a man’s house, the question of why the woman was in the house is usually raised during reporting. In other cases, the media may question the decision by a woman to be alone in a party and why they take a significant amount of alcohol. This brands the victim as deserving or to have provoked the sexual assault. In other instances, the media reporting on sexual assault on female sexual workers is directed towards pointing the victim as deserving based on her actions and decisions (Wood, 2013). This form of reporting tends to alleviate the weight of the crime from the offender to the victim. Myth III: Women are Likely to Lie about Rape With the increase of sexual assaults cases, the society seems to develop the assumption that a woman may lie about a sexual assault incident. O’Hara (2012) is of the assumption that they are few cases in which investigation have depicted than women have lied on being victims of rape. The author further asserts that this is done in the instance when a woman wants to achieve revenge or an objective to a completely different case (O’Hara, 2012). These minimal occurrences have increased the way in which the society brands women as liars in regards to sexual assault. Ryan (2011) points out that the society has increased its tendency to acquire accurate information and evidence on a sexual assault case before the man can be victimized. The myth has been the most influential on the media reporting. The reporting of a rape case in the media is quickly preceded by an analysis of whether the victim is lying or the suspect is guilty. On numerous occasions, the media goes to an extent of acquiring statements from rape suspect which they would likely deny (Grubb & Turner, 2012). The attention then shifts to the victim to justify her claims. This has massive effects on the victim who has been assaulted by a victim who is supported by the myth. Myth IV: The Question Good Men against the Charges Presented The myth mainly impact victims of rape assaulted by men viewed as holy or good by the society. For instance, a religious leader may be charged with rape. However, the society may term the man as a good person based on his social affiliation. In addition, victims may seem harmless in the eye of the society which makes it difficult for them to be viewed as sex offenders. Gill (2007) points out that the offense of rape should not be subject to the perception of the society on the offender. The author further highlights that the victim of rape should be viewed as the affected not the offender who is protected by their social image (Gill, 2007). The media also uses the same myth in the reporting of sexual violence cases. The media tends to question the tendency of a good man to commit such an act. For this reason, the reporting goes beyond seeking justice for the victim but seeking beyond reasonable doubt evidence that may portray the offender as a sex offender. The problem is more prevalent in cases where the victim is viewed by a low regard by the society. For instance, if a religious man sexually assaults a commercial sex worker, it is likely that much media coverage will be provided to the religious personality on their unlikeliness to commit a sexual offense (Wood, 2013). Myth V: Sexual Assault only Occurs in a Specific Type of Women Rape victims are often expected to be of little prestige and of a low social class. In addition, women and girls who take part in negatively perceived social behaviour are expected to the only victims of rape. On the other hand, nice girls are rarely victims of the crime. However, this is not the case. Van Dijk (2011) argues that the victim selection of sexual assault is not determined by the behaviour, character or class of the woman. Any woman is a potential victim of sexual assault. The myth has created a great margin in identifying and recognizing rape victims a branded group of nice of good women. In instances where a nice girl or women is assaulted, the society seeks to identify a factor than may brand the victim as undesirable (York, 2011). The media also tries to portray sexual assault victims to have undesirable social behaviours. In regards to victims branded as potential victims; the media asks the questions as why did the victims did not realize their likeliness to be victims of sexual violence (Gill, 2007). For this reason, victims from the unlikely group of nice women find it difficult to be viewed as innocent victims as the act by men is indirectly justified or viewed with less significance. Myth VI: The Myth on Marginalized Victims on Offenders The myth was mostly relevant in ages where the society was highly marginalized by race and class. However, the modern society is also affected the myth. The myth develops the assumption that only people from marginalized races and class can be sexual assault offenders. For instance, it is likely for the society to view a black man as an offenders rather than a victim of sexual assault. Weatherall (2002) points out that marginalization based on class or race should not determine the direction of a sexual offense. The media has become more sensitive in reporting on sexual offenses by a minority group. However, cases involving a person from a minority group as the offender are given more coverage with the aim of increasing the ability of justice to be served (York, 2011). On the other hand, victims from minority groups tend not be viewed as real or less deserving of the act. Conclusion From the myths presented, it is accurate to assert that the media reporting on sexual violence in women may not portray the accurate events in the incidence. The myths provide an easier alternative from which the media may address the possible questions that may arise from the general social perceptions. However, the myths should not direct the extent and mode by which the media reports on sexual assaults cases on women. The myths hinder the way in which sexual violence against women is viewed as relevant or significant in regards to understanding the impact it has on the victims. References Dawson, M. & Johnson, H. 2011. Violence against Women: Research and Policy Perspectives. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Gill, R. 2007. Gender and the Media. London: Polity Press. Grubb, A. & Turner, E. 2012. “Attribution of Blame in Rape Cases: A Review of the Impact of Rape Myth Acceptance, Gender Role Conformity and Substance Use on Victim Blaming. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 17: 443–452. Kitzinger, J. 2009. Rape in the Media. Portland: Willing Publishing. O’Hara, S. 2012. Monsters, Playboys, Virgins and Whores: Rape Myths in the News Media’s Coverage of Sexual Violence. Language and Literature, 21, (3): 247-259. Ryan, K. 2011. The Relationship between Rape Myths and Sexual Scripts: The Social Construction of Rape. Sex roles, 65: 774-782. Van Dijk, A. 2011. Discourse Studies: A Multidisciplinary Approach. London: SAGE Publications. Weatherall, A. 2002. Gender, Language and Discourse. London: Routledge. Wood, J. 2013. Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender, and Culture. Boston: Wodsworth Cengage Learning. York, M. 2011. Gender Attitudes and Violence against Women. 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