A Study Proves That Media Can Subtly Induce Society To Justify Violence Against Women
A Study Proves That Media Can Subtly Induce Society To Justify Violence Against Women
I actually found this article via the 'Psydir News' blog, but it was originally written in Medical News Today.
The article states that when a violent crime is committed by a male against a female, and is reported in the media (ie, the newspaper), there are often 'rationalisations' behind the crime, ie what 'provoked' it. The author(s) state a number of 'reasons' or 'causes' behind the crime, eg, drunkeness/alcohol, jealousy, arguments or situations of prolonged unemployment
- to explain the aggressor's behaviour. In other words, the aggressor seen as a 'victim of circumstance' or a 'victim of society' when he commits such crimes.
Or, if they are pinpointing what the victim had done to 'deserve' it, it would be like
"the aggressor had asked her to marry him and she refused".
In other words, she is portrayed as 'a bitch'.
Then the writers/authors of the article then conclude:
"they do not intend to point to the media as responsible for the increase of cases of violence against women", but they think that, after the results obtained, "the media should be more rigorous when it comes to tell the news related to this kind of violence".
In other words, even though the writers didn't intend to show a 'cause and effect' relationship between media reporting of violence against women, and increases in this sort of behaviour by men, but needed to be more careful in how it is reported, as to not 'excuse' the aggressor's behaviour.
There is a grain of truth what has been written - there appears to be a positive correlation between the increased reporting of such incidences (in the press), and an increase in the number of incidences themselves.
Or could it be an increase in the number of incidences reported to the police and other authorities? In other words, could it be that women are less prepared to accept physical (and sexual) violence and harassement by men than they were in the past? Even verbal or psychological abuse (which could be quite threatening in itself)?
And men who behave as such are going to continue to justify their own behaviour to the press, the police and otherwise, and refuse to accept the consequences for their actions (be they drunk, emotionally disturbed, or, as they like to think, a 'victim of circumstances').
It has been nearly two decades since the last time I had an ex so much as lay a finger on me (he was the one who wanted out), so I have not encountered that situation in a long time. However, I have been in many situations where grown men (who act like boys) have been either verbally (or emotionally) abusive, or sexually harassing, towards me. Most of these situations have involved either work colleagues I didn't particularly like or young men who are total strangers. And most of these 'aggressors' have been either in their teens or early twenties.
At work, I have had 'snide' comments made about me, about my choice of music and clothes, my personality, my physical appearance. I have also been asked out for dates, like it was some kind of joke, and when I said, 'no', they have continued, or have been questioned why I won't go out with them (they know well that I think they are d***heads but won't admit to it or even try to understand how I could think such a thing about them).
When the problem involves someone outside of work, it is usually in a 'public' place (ie outside of home or work), it may occurr in a pub (when I drunk guy tries to hit on me), but more often than not, it is when I am on public transport, waiting for a bus or train, or walking up to the bus stop from either my home or place of work. And, because I do shift work, it will occurr at an odd hour (ie after dark). It usually involves someone who is a total stranger, who will scream something totally random from the relative safety of their car (you never quite know what is being said either, only what you think you know), or they make really loud noises in your ear (usually screaming for no reason). Other times, I have had objects thrown at me, or have been squirted with some liquid substance.
When I have reported the problem to the authorities concerned (eg management or the union at work, or the police or security if the problem occurrs/recurrs in a public place), it is either swept under the carpet, or I have been accused of either 'overreacting' (if I voice my objections or get upset) or being oversensitive; or of 'provoking' the incident (on the rare occasion when I do 'bite back'). In some instances, I have even been accused of being 'a woman scorned'.
But one thing in common with all these incidents as that there is a 'blame the victim' mentality, even though I have taken all the necessary (and possible) steps to try and prevent the problem from recurring. There is never a time when my 'aggressors' have been held responsible for their own behaviour. Noone ever teaches these guys to control themselves, to limit their alcohol intake, or walk away if things get too hard (and try and work out the problem later on when they are a bit more 'cool-headed').
And when I do read these articles, I'm left thinking, 'Boo hooo!!!! Cry me a river!!!' whether or not the victim truly asked for it, but it certainly indicates a lack of self-discipline and self-control on the part of the aggressor.
And all because they can't get what they want either? Is it really the end of the world if they can't get a date, get told to behave themselves, get told to take a running jump, if a girl doesn't want to know them etc?
Perhaps if someone told them to 'grow up' and stop acting like a d*** often enough, perhaps they might get the message. But then again, maybe not!!!!
(no) cheers,
Night Owl
PS This is not to disparage all males who perhaps might want to date or marry a particular female, just the ones that act like they are entitled to it at any cost (even if it costs the woman her safety, her well being or even her life).
PPS - Relevance to heavy metal: not exclusively, but it takes into account those guys who commit violent crimes, even if they aren't into metal. However, if the aggressor is into metal (rap, punk or any other less 'socially accepted' music genre), more often than not, the music genre (and not the other choices the person makes) is to blame; whereas, if a 'non-metal' guy does the same thing, it is usually the 'alcohol speaking' or something like that.
I actually found this article via the 'Psydir News' blog, but it was originally written in Medical News Today.
The article states that when a violent crime is committed by a male against a female, and is reported in the media (ie, the newspaper), there are often 'rationalisations' behind the crime, ie what 'provoked' it. The author(s) state a number of 'reasons' or 'causes' behind the crime, eg, drunkeness/alcohol, jealousy, arguments or situations of prolonged unemployment
- to explain the aggressor's behaviour. In other words, the aggressor seen as a 'victim of circumstance' or a 'victim of society' when he commits such crimes.
Or, if they are pinpointing what the victim had done to 'deserve' it, it would be like
"the aggressor had asked her to marry him and she refused".
In other words, she is portrayed as 'a bitch'.
Then the writers/authors of the article then conclude:
"they do not intend to point to the media as responsible for the increase of cases of violence against women", but they think that, after the results obtained, "the media should be more rigorous when it comes to tell the news related to this kind of violence".
In other words, even though the writers didn't intend to show a 'cause and effect' relationship between media reporting of violence against women, and increases in this sort of behaviour by men, but needed to be more careful in how it is reported, as to not 'excuse' the aggressor's behaviour.
There is a grain of truth what has been written - there appears to be a positive correlation between the increased reporting of such incidences (in the press), and an increase in the number of incidences themselves.
Or could it be an increase in the number of incidences reported to the police and other authorities? In other words, could it be that women are less prepared to accept physical (and sexual) violence and harassement by men than they were in the past? Even verbal or psychological abuse (which could be quite threatening in itself)?
And men who behave as such are going to continue to justify their own behaviour to the press, the police and otherwise, and refuse to accept the consequences for their actions (be they drunk, emotionally disturbed, or, as they like to think, a 'victim of circumstances').
It has been nearly two decades since the last time I had an ex so much as lay a finger on me (he was the one who wanted out), so I have not encountered that situation in a long time. However, I have been in many situations where grown men (who act like boys) have been either verbally (or emotionally) abusive, or sexually harassing, towards me. Most of these situations have involved either work colleagues I didn't particularly like or young men who are total strangers. And most of these 'aggressors' have been either in their teens or early twenties.
At work, I have had 'snide' comments made about me, about my choice of music and clothes, my personality, my physical appearance. I have also been asked out for dates, like it was some kind of joke, and when I said, 'no', they have continued, or have been questioned why I won't go out with them (they know well that I think they are d***heads but won't admit to it or even try to understand how I could think such a thing about them).
When the problem involves someone outside of work, it is usually in a 'public' place (ie outside of home or work), it may occurr in a pub (when I drunk guy tries to hit on me), but more often than not, it is when I am on public transport, waiting for a bus or train, or walking up to the bus stop from either my home or place of work. And, because I do shift work, it will occurr at an odd hour (ie after dark). It usually involves someone who is a total stranger, who will scream something totally random from the relative safety of their car (you never quite know what is being said either, only what you think you know), or they make really loud noises in your ear (usually screaming for no reason). Other times, I have had objects thrown at me, or have been squirted with some liquid substance.
When I have reported the problem to the authorities concerned (eg management or the union at work, or the police or security if the problem occurrs/recurrs in a public place), it is either swept under the carpet, or I have been accused of either 'overreacting' (if I voice my objections or get upset) or being oversensitive; or of 'provoking' the incident (on the rare occasion when I do 'bite back'). In some instances, I have even been accused of being 'a woman scorned'.
But one thing in common with all these incidents as that there is a 'blame the victim' mentality, even though I have taken all the necessary (and possible) steps to try and prevent the problem from recurring. There is never a time when my 'aggressors' have been held responsible for their own behaviour. Noone ever teaches these guys to control themselves, to limit their alcohol intake, or walk away if things get too hard (and try and work out the problem later on when they are a bit more 'cool-headed').
And when I do read these articles, I'm left thinking, 'Boo hooo!!!! Cry me a river!!!' whether or not the victim truly asked for it, but it certainly indicates a lack of self-discipline and self-control on the part of the aggressor.
And all because they can't get what they want either? Is it really the end of the world if they can't get a date, get told to behave themselves, get told to take a running jump, if a girl doesn't want to know them etc?
Perhaps if someone told them to 'grow up' and stop acting like a d*** often enough, perhaps they might get the message. But then again, maybe not!!!!
(no) cheers,
Night Owl
PS This is not to disparage all males who perhaps might want to date or marry a particular female, just the ones that act like they are entitled to it at any cost (even if it costs the woman her safety, her well being or even her life).
PPS - Relevance to heavy metal: not exclusively, but it takes into account those guys who commit violent crimes, even if they aren't into metal. However, if the aggressor is into metal (rap, punk or any other less 'socially accepted' music genre), more often than not, the music genre (and not the other choices the person makes) is to blame; whereas, if a 'non-metal' guy does the same thing, it is usually the 'alcohol speaking' or something like that.
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