I Think: Media can shift the balance by allocating shame to perpetrators
Tanita Abraham, education strategist, Sonepat
Reading how rape is reported has led me to believe that it is lopsided. There is undue attention on the survivor, her clothing, whereabouts, time of day etc — which makes it seem like the media is almost making an apology for why the rape happened.
I think the media has the potential to change the narrative of shame by focusing on the perpetrators.
There is something normative when it comes to rape reporting. These norms create a standard narrative of rape. For example, there is hardly anything about the perpetrator by way of background details.
I would want to know more about the the perpetrator’s socio-economic position, caste and class information — even things like how educated they are and what school they went to. There should be an attempt to recreate the context for the reader without any value judgement on either party.
Reporters should watch out for the travails that victims have to face in the process of justice.
One story that made me very uncomfortable was Khairlanji. It was harrowing because the reporting didn’t do justice. Identities were blatantly revealed. I think that happened not only because of the marginalised identity but because it was not a metro city.
I think survivors should have a choice inasmuch as the disclosure of their identity is concerned.
I want to read about all cases of rape but that doesn’t happen as our social media feeds and platforms are highly curated. The algorithms only show us the tip of the iceberg.
