Introduction
Have you or anyone you know ever been affected by Domestic Violence? Studies have
shown that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced a form of Domestic Violence
in their lifetime (Gavin, S. M., & Kruis, N. E. 2022). With the immense control the media
has on the information spread on the internet, it harnesses the ability to create either
positive or negative forms of media relating to Domestic Violence, which can either aim
to help or harm victims of this type of violence. With the help of various artifacts ranging
from videos to movements, this anti-violence critical collection aims to explore the
different effects Domestic Violence has on the media and what effect that media has on
victims. The collection argues that the media can be used to shine light and bring
awareness to the issue of Domestic Violence, but can also create a hateful and toxic
space for Domestic Violence victims due to its anonymity factor. This topic is important
as it roughly scratches the surface of the control the media has on perspective,
opinions, information as technology grows and how easily that power can turn negative
in the wrong person's hands. As politics become more and more important in society, it
is important to be properly educated on the effects the government has on everyday
living. In the wrong hands, Domestic Violence can be encouraged with harmful media
normalizing misogynistic stereotypes and cultural values. This collection dives deeper
into the uses of media and how that directly affects victims.
Conclusion
After analyzing all the artifacts it’s become clear that the ones chosen mostly display the
positive effects Domestic Violence cases have on the media but this is not to say that all
effects are as positive as it seems. Many harmful types of media that enforce
misogynistic stereotypes include pornographic content, women hating online forums, left
wing podcasts encouraging toxic male behaviour, and even normalized sexist
comments in video games. Misogynistic stereotypes not only force women into a
specific role, diminishing their power as people, but can be just as harmful to male
victims. The stereotype that men are strong and cannot be hurt is especially toxic as it
prevents male victims from speaking about their abuse experiences, forcing them to
stay in harmful situations. Domestic Violence affects witnesses in a negative aspect as
well, children are common witnesses when it comes to DV and experience long-lasting
effects that stay with them forever because of their impressionable age.
Domestic Violence Explained
According to one source, Domestic Violence or DV is “acts committed by a current or
former partner against another, or within a family”(Domestic Violence, 2010). The
definition continues to say that this can take many forms of violence such as physical,
psychological, financial, or sexual abuse. Domestic Violence events can vary in
duration, whether it is a one time event, or multiple times during a long period of time.
Victims and Perpetrators can be of any gender, age, sexuality, religion, culture, or
education or economic level.Domestic Violence can also happen online as technology
grows, many new forms of DV have arisen such as stalking, and new forms of
emotional abuse have arised through forms of communication.
There are many factors that contribute to DV, some common ones can be; rough family
background, feelings of insecurity, distrust, or inadequacy, or stress(Domestic Violence,
2010). Domestic Violence is heavily influenced by the media as the way it is portrayed
can either escalate or deescalate the situation.
Because of the growth in technology, Domestic Violence is also being seen in the
media. Sharing information has become easier on the topic whether it is informative,
preventative, or therapeutic. Things such as news pages, social media, or even
Artifact #1 - Make Me A Sandwich
The short horror film, titled "Make Me A Sandwich", aims to explore the narrative of
long-lasting psychological effects of Domestic Violence on victims. The film centers on a
wife who is repeatedly ordered by her abusive husband to make him a sandwich, a
sentence often used in a misogynistic way to lower the power of women. The husband
fits the build of a stereotypical abuser, with his tone, behaviours, and clothing. Over time
the wife becomes annoyed and seeks to take revenge against her hostile husband in
the little ways she can. This includes adding harmful substances to his means like cater
litter and glass shards. As the cycle continues, the husband does not seem phased by
the additions to the sandwich, prompting the viewer to raise suspicion. The end of the
film displays a shocking plot twist, revealing the husband was dead for quite some time,
but the wife was still in a loop of her own personal hell. The film symbolizes the lasting
effects of emotional and psychological abuse, showing how the victim's mind remains
within the traumatic experience even after escaping it in reality. The concept of
intersectionality ties in with this artifact due to the way that women of visible minority
face more challenges when seeking resources, such as healthcare, to help them
recover and heal from Domestic Violence. The barrier allows for the continuous mental
health issues of those from low-income positions made from societal stereotypes and
standards.
The film uses disturbing imagery to highlight the dire and dangerousness of Domestic
Violence situations. It serves as a powerful source of media on the mental toll of
domestic violence, demonstrating how victims are scarred after Domestic Violence
experiences that can last a lifetime. These lasting effects are often not immediately
visible, but studies show that survivors of domestic violence frequently struggle with
suicidal thoughts, lower quality of life, and enduring emotional pain (Liu, M et al. 2021).
The film does not suggest that the specific events depicted literally happened but uses
them as a metaphor to underscore the harsh reality of psychological abuse and the
difficulty of escaping its mental grip. By depicting the wife’s ongoing suffering, the
artifact highlights the profound and enduring effects of domestic violence on victims,
emphasizing that healing often requires long-term therapy and support.
Artifact #2 - Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard
The ‘Depp v. Heard’ case brings to light the way the media can shape public
perceptions of Domestic Violence based on the identities of those involved. Most
commonly in situations involving important and famous figures, these situations and
allegations are almost always forgotten about. The emergence of this case started when
Amber Heard wrote an article in "The Washington Post", a famous source of media
news in America, in which she identified herself as a victim of Domestic Violence. These
allegations came with no name, but many assumed it was about Johnny Depp. In
retaliation, Depp then sued Heard for defamation where she counter-sued him back.
Regardless of the truth of the allegations, the way the media framed the case was
heavily influenced by the celebrity status of Johnny Depp. Due to the beloved actor's
popularity, he accumulated a large fan base over the years, where many fans rallied
behind him regardless of the facts of the case. The internet played a huge role in the
sharing of opinions on the case, the anonymity factor of the internet allowed for hateful
and toxic comments towards Heard, a common issue many victims face. The concept of
intersectionality helps explain why figures with Johnny Depp’s demographics, rich white
celebrity men, often gain a substantial amount of support from the media while their
combatants, such as Amber Heard and her being a less-known woman, face backlash
and hate.
The dynamic reflects the way personal biases and public personalities can impact how
stories are interpreted and believed. The artifact demonstrates the significance the
media has on real-life situations and plays a huge role in how victims of Domestic
Violence are perceived. The case highlights a larger trend of people being more likely to
support figures they admire and look up to, regardless of the true identity of that person
in reality. This trend aligns with the theory that public opinion shifts based on personal
biases. The portrayal of this case shows just how much control the media has on all
types of information, including Domestic Violence, and just how narratives are pushed
against the type of violence.
Artifact #3 - Signal for Help
According to Khurana, Bharti, et al. 2020, in 2018, the United Nations reported that the
most dangerous place for a woman was inside her own home. Domestic Violence is
often the result of traditional roles within cultures encouraged by the media often
encouraging these stereotypes.
The artifact displays a video call between two women, conversing about a baking
recipe. Shortly into the video, the participant gives a hand signal to the other woman on
the phone. In an attempt to combat the issue of Domestic Violence in homes during the
pandemic, the Canadian Women's Foundation created the "Signal for Help" aiming to
create an undetectable and almost invisible form of survival for victims. It consists of
three hand movements: an open palm, tucking the thumb, and flattening the remaining
four fingers into a fist. Although the signal was created as a way for those to seek them
during the lockdown, it quickly became popularized worldwide and is used in public
places to alert others of danger(Azimi, S. et al 2023).
This artifact raises awareness of Domestic Violence within the home, aiming to educate
those suffering with tools for help and, in turn, empower those victims. The artifact
shares similarities with other help strategies, such as the 911 pizza order call and the
'angel shot'. The artifact highlights the positive forms media can take on when
addressing the issue of Domestic Violence. The Signal for Help enhances the victim's
ability to take back control in their situation that was created by negative media in the
first place. When taking into account Crenshaw’s concept of Intersectionality, the
importance lies within the identity of the user of the signal. Victims that are women,
LGBTQ+, people of colour, and those with disabilities are especially vulnerable in
Domestic Violence situations, emphasizing the importance of a silent signal.
Unfortunately, because of the rise in popularity of the hand signal it has not only allowed
victims to seek help but has allowed perpetrators to gain knowledge on the signal. This
has resulted in the signal becoming more detectable which in turn may do more harm
for victims than good. Because of this, the media has to become more innovative and
creative in the near future in order to continue to help victims of Domestic Violence.
Artifact #4 - TikTok Trend
This artifact consists of a TikTok trend that sparked popularity during Domestic Violence
Awareness Month. It provides an important example of how Domestic Violence comes
in many shapes and forms, specifically the non-physical forms such as psychological
and emotional abuse. The format of the trend consists of a pair of images, the first one
with a statement along the lines of "he did not hit me but..." followed up with a second
statement explaining the victim's experience. The artifact aims to raise awareness of
invisible forms of violence that victims still endure and can be equally as harmful. It
breaks down the stigmatization around psychological, mental, and emotional abuse that
is often forgotten about due to the coverage, stereotypes, and portrayals in the media.
Psychological violence has always been seen as a secondary, less than form of
violence, which is mainly because psychological, mental or emotional abuse is
classified as an invisible form of harm. As Schindeler, E. et al 2016 says, this type of
violence "encompasses a cluster of hostile behavioural characteristics". Non-physical
forms of abuse include threats, shaming, manipulating, gaslighting, yelling, bullying, and
more.
This TikTok trend plays a crucial role in validating the experiences of those who may not
have physical scars but still suffer severely emotionally and mentally. By sharing stories
of one's experiences with Domestic Violence, it helps others recognize the more
overlooked forms of abuse while providing a sense of community and validation for
victims who may have felt invalidated and alienated. According to Dragiewicz, M. et al
2018 "women have long used the internet as a platform for mutual support,
self-expression and activism". In this artifact the concept of intersectionality draws from
the ability to seek help and therapy from these DV situations. Minorities, when it comes
to race, age, gender, etc., face a harder challenge when obtaining the help they need in
these situations as well as after, especially if they come from a low-income background.
While the media helps the spread of awareness on invisible forms of abuse, it also
challenges its portrayal of narrow and physical-centric forms of abuse in more
mainstream forms of media. The TikTok media platform pushes for freedom of speech
and human connection, allowing those to connect in even the loneliest of places.
Artifact #5 - The 4B Movement
The 4B movement displays the intersection between Domestic Violence, the media, and
feminist activism. The feminist movement originated in South Korea, its popularity
exploded online and worldwide following the story of the murder of a woman by a man
due to her refusal of his advances. Misogyny fuels gendered hatred, inequality, and
oppression, including gender-based violence (McCarthy, L. & Taylor, S. 2024). It
highlighted how important media coverage is and how gender violence is often
portrayed, commonly downplaying the importance of proper media coverage of
Domestic Violence by normalizing the violent reactions from perpetrators. The 4B
movement's proponents include the four No's or refusal of heterosexual marriage,
childbirth, romance, and sexual relationships (Lee, J. & Jeong, E. 2021). The refusal of
patriarchal values and traditional roles is a direct response to perpetuated social norms
and stereotypes by the media and society. The movement's main argument is "calling
attention to their everyday experiences of fear and frustration as evidence of the
structural exploitation of and violence against women (in Korea)" (Lee, J. & Jeong, E.
2021), which specifies that Domestic Violence is not just compiled of individual actions
but the media's collective role in encouraging dangerous and violent issues aligning with
gender inequality and exploitation. The movement not only protests against women’s
rights in general, but brings light to situations that are often overlooked, showcasing
Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality. This applies to how women who are minorities,
such as women of colour, LGBTQ+, and low-income women, are more vulnerable to
misogyny and experience Domestic Violence in different ways than the norm.
With the re-election of President Donald J. Trump bringing light to the movement, many
women turn to joining in an attempt to gain back control of themselves and their bodies
which further displays the media's contribution to Domestic Violence. The media, when
used correctly, allows those globally around the world to share their voice and
movements, such as the 4B movement. The media plays a key part in perpetuating
dangerous stereotypes and enforcing systematic issues such as gender inequality, but it
can also be used to spread information and awareness worldwide to create movements
such as the 4B movement, meant to fight against those patriarchal and traditional roles
that women are forced into.