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The term ‘frame’ comes from Goffman (1974) to describe how people identify, interpret, understand, and label their experiences. This is similar to how a photographer decides to frame a shot. They can tell a particular story about a scenic landscape by focusing on, say, a flower. A lot of information will be left outside that frame. Another photographer may instead take pictures of a mountain range or the sky. Each picture involves making a decision to focus on some things while leaving other details out. When it comes to domestic violence, there are millions of stories to tell; each unique in their own way. Any victim, abuser, or spectator who is going to tell their story will say only a tiny part of the whole landscape. Media chooses to frame social problems in ways that complement their needs for a larger audience or for pleasing a particular market. Whether the focus is on entertainment or politics, social problems are shaped in ways that will help sell magazines, television shows, movies, or newspapers.
Media portrayal of IPV plays an important role in shaping public views about the issue, including beliefs about what causes it, who is responsible, and emotional responses. Things like context, wording, sources, and presentation style of information can change a reader’s interpretation and opinions of the story. The medical community had declared IPV as a public health problem over 20 years ago but current news coverage still continues to portray it as an individual issue, overlooking factors that contribute to the pervasiveness and public tolerance of IPV. Episodic framing is a type of presentation in which social issues are depicted ”as limited to events only and not placed in a broader interpretation or context” (De Vreese, 2005, p. 56). Given that news coverage of IPV is almost exclusively presented using episodic frames, it is unsurprising that public perceptions of IPV as a personal problem involving only the perpetrator and the victim view, while important contextual factors are understated or ignored. Research shows that media that encourages an individual’s perspective can increase victim-blaming, misconceptions, and a decrease in feelings of personal and societal responsibility for providing help or engaging in efforts to reduce or prevent IPV. By presenting a more accurate and complete portrayal of IPV, news media outlets have the potential to promote increased public support and involvement in prevention efforts other prosocial helping behaviors.
As technology plays an increasingly central role in our everyday lives, its role in intimate partner violence (IPV) is also increasing. Technology is a common way abusers use to exert control over their victims, this includes physical and virtual stalking. They can gain access to location services, cameras, social networks, and spyware. Survivors and legal professionals need to collect digital evidence to prove IPV in court so they can get legal orders of protection. This is made difficult with the pace of technology change and by the fact that evidence collection can mess with a victim’s privacy needs. An example of this is the case of OJ Simpson. He was accused of stabbing his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, as well as Ron Goldman when they were found outside of his home. This case changed how a lot of people thought about domestic violence and murder. Nicole had called the police on OJ several times, and appeared with bruises and a cut lip and told officers she feared for her life. The abuse before her death was a wakeup call for women across the country. Domestic violence organizations saw an increase in awareness and reporting ‘as women from all walks of life realized they were in danger,’ said Rona Solomon, deputy director of the Center Against Domestic Violence. The growing awareness was important to getting the Violence Against Women Act passed through Congress in 1994. In 1996, Congress passed a law that prevented domestic batterers from purchasing guns and at least 250,000 purchases were denied because of active restraining orders. Another example is in late 2014, released security footage from a casino in Atlantic City casino showed an athlete hitting his then-fiancé in the face, rendering her unconscious. The woman in the video married the athlete and was criticized for staying in an abusive relationship. As part of the discussion, the hashtag #WhyIStayed trended nationally on Twitter. But within a matter of weeks, people had moved on.
In one of her books, Diane Shoos who is an associate professor of visual studies at Michigan Technological University examines portrayals of abusive relationships in Hollywood that reinforces who and what we believe about domestic violence. She found that even though these films intend to condemn abuse and empower women, they ignore the complexities and consequences of violent relationships. Shoos examines six films—Gaslight (1944), Sleeping with the Enemy (1991), What’s Love Got To Do With It (1993), Dolores Claiborne (1995), Enough (2002) and Safe Haven (2013). While she thinks each contains positive elements, ‘there are certain characterizations and narrative patterns in these films that have become so established and ingrained that we seem to be stuck with them, inside and outside the theater.’ Shoos notes that the majority of Hollywood films about domestic violence center on women with the resources to escape. This reinforces the idea that it’s relatively easy for a woman to leave an abusive relationship, she just has to decide to do so. Shoos ends her book with a similar plea for more representations and also for critical viewing. ‘Media literacy is not just watching a bunch of stuff. We’re not all media literate because we binge-watch,’ Shoos says. ‘Media literacy is taking a look at what’s happening on screen and analyzing it on multiple levels. Let’s understand how narrative and cinematic techniques are being used, which characters are given a voice and which characters are not, where there are mixed messages and contradictions. And how does this overlap with other discussions we’re having in the world? To say representation matters is not an new observation. But it matters especially in the case of domestic violence.’
However, while there has been a shift in the way this issue is discussed and a definite push to have it taken more seriously, there are still far too many stories going untold. And as communicators, those in the media need to play a greater role in ensuring honest, healthy discussions around domestic violence take place – sharing our stories, however difficult that may be, is a key component to ultimately stirring debate and helping evoke change. Violence Free Minnesota was founded in 1978 and it’s a statewide coalition of over 90 member programs that work together to end relationship abuse, create safety, and achieve social justice for all. They represent victims and survivors of relationship abuse and member programs; challenge systems and institutions; promote social change; and support, educate, and connect member programs.
References
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
- Advocates are available to help individuals who are Deaf and hard of hearing at 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) or by chat.
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