Is the Media's Advocacy for Women's Freedom Just an Illusion?
- Huda Azaam
- Feb 20
- 6 min read
Trigger warning: This article contains discussions on sexual assault and violence, and some readers may find it distressing.
Doctor Gang-Raped at Workplace; left to succumb to her injuries. Another rape. Another headline.
The vicious cycle continues as another surge of fear and anxiety brings me back to the roots of rebuilding resilience. My hands were glued to my phone, tingling with the surge of cold sweat as I gulped down the horror.
As a young South-Asian woman pursuing a BSc in Psychology, I’m acutely aware of the psychological impact that such news stories can have on women while simultaneously feeling this impact myself. The casual sexism and harassment women are sometimes subject to in the media reinforces this discomfort and undermines our safety. The media's portrayal of sexual violence against women is conflicted, often shaped by patriarchal values. It can sometimes blame us for our trauma, depict us as victims of abuse, and justify our suffering by framing it as inevitable. Nonetheless, it is important to acknowledge that media outlets have also been a source of uplifting women, providing initiatives such as the #metoo movement, which was pivotal in encouraging solidarity for survivors ever since.
The article is a media critique regarding its dual role in promoting and advocating against women’s rights. It highlights the reinforcement of the male gaze, victim blaming and the lack of predators' accountability in sexual violations. Lastly, it briefs the psychological impact women deal with and the resulting coping mechanisms offered by the mainstream media that may aggravate the situation, putting the media in question.
The Illusion of Freedom Via the Male Gaze
While the media often advocates for women’s rights and safety, portraying them in high-end jobs, managing work-life balance, and providing them platforms for voicing their concerns, issues like domestic abuse and sexual objectification remain ongoing threats.
In 2023 alone, 85,000 women were intentionally murdered, with 51,000 (60%) of these homicides having been committed by an intimate partner. Overlooking the ongoing problems and only focusing on the advancements in women’s freedom and rights inadvertently exacerbates the problem.
Can we really feel safe if Countless sexual violations committed by men go unpunished?
For this article, I spoke with two women, referred to as X and Y. Y, a graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, is a dedicated advocate for women’s rights. Whereas X, an A-level student pursuing humanitarian studies, is actively challenging societal norms through her individual grassroots efforts.
As Y told me, ‘Every criminal and rapist unpunished rightfully by the law boosts the moral and confidence of those actively committing the crime, as well as the bystanders intending crime’.
The media can subtly endorse a culture where crimes against women are downplayed or ignored, making it easier for perpetrators to avoid accountability and for society to dismiss the seriousness of such acts
This issue is tied to the concept of the ‘male gaze’ which refers to how media narratives frame women as passive, sexualized objects for male pleasure, while men are positioned as active agents. The recent allegations brought by Blake Lively against her co-star Justin Baldoni regarding the filming of It Ends with Us have become an internet sensation. In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment during the film's production, stating that Baldoni improvised intimate scenes without receiving her consent first.
Baldoni, on the other hand, has defended himself, claiming these actions were simply part of playing his character. This situation highlights how the male gaze can direct the narrative, reinforcing the power imbalance that treats women as passive objects in male-dominated on-screen stories—an imbalance that extends into reality.
Much like the insidious nature of casual sexual harassment (previously discussed on ITM), the media’s portrayal of women, which seems harmless and trivial, normalizes and perpetuates harmful rhetoric. Women in turn are conditioned to constantly assess how they are perceived by others. ‘It is this toxic system that even women themselves may perpetuate’ X said as she shared her disappointment. For many, life revolves around meeting the male gaze, diminishing women’s autonomy over themselves. Society continues to applaud and justify toxic masculinity—aggression, narcissistic-abuse, and the entitlement to objectify women. While statistics on psychological disorders stemming from sexual abuse continue to rise.
Coping Strategies: Media and True Crime
With rising mental health awareness, sexual-abuse survivors have taken initiatives to challenge the resulting shame and helplessness and take preventive measures. This includes: trauma-informed care, group and individual therapy, podcasts reducing stigma and shame around sexual-abuse, online support groups, and 24/7 hotlines for immediate support. ITM’s feature on Lindsay's moving story highlights how such programs empower survivors.
However, healing isn’t linear; unhealthy coping mechanisms can create an illusion of progress, often complicating recovery. To cope with the rising anxiety and fear and to temporarily distract themselves from the overwhelming reality that dismisses these struggles women heavily consume true crime, making up 80% of the total viewership. Studies show that the concentrated female audience is due to a desire to learn how to escape or prevent violent attacks.
‘It’s entertaining when you consider the psyche behind it, often rooted in various traumas. But also, very unsettling to realize how capable (of violence) people around me can be’ X shared. Y chipped-in, “my paranoia serves as a protective trauma response.”
Arguably the media is playing an effective role in providing women with the safe space of exploring feelings which remains a dream otherwise. Recent productions highlight the darker aspects of society, such as the emotional and mental burdens women must bear to simply navigate societal expectations. While this relatability helps drive awareness and advocacy, the media itself has long been responsible for perpetuating many of these issues. This raises an important question: is the media genuinely supporting women, or is it keeping them trapped in an unresolved cycle?
After every shocking news story, shows and movies based on real events depict women as resilient survivors reclaiming their power and confronting fears. While inspiring, these portrayals only romanticize justice. Will justice ever be served beyond the fairy-tale fiction?
Desensitization and Blame Shifting
‘At this point, I don’t even think they (the media) are sympathizing with women. Their circumstances are treated like an opportunity for the media to cash in, for money. It’s basically just fiction,’ X shared her frustration.
Overall, the resulting self- worth and self-respect of women is heavily impacted both by the media and the resulting perspective of society. Somehow women are held responsible for the trauma they are made to go through. ‘People make you self-conscious about your image, compromising your self-respect. Society lets men abuse anyone without it diminishing their self-respect’, Y shared.
Instead of focusing on the abuse itself, the media shifts the narrative to the aftermath, distracting from the root issues of the abuse.
While I truly appreciate the quick sympathies that the media extends to the survivor, a survivor doesn’t exist if there is no villain. Where is the villain in the media’s headlines?
Each headline broadcasts ‘another girl raped,’ but never ‘man rapes girl.’ The narrative focuses on her attire, profession, or the time of day, but never addresses the lack of accountability or the perpetrator's desire for fulfilling their sexual needs as the real causes. "It silently approves violence, encouraging those waiting for a chance to commit crimes against women," Y shrugged.
X added: ‘Good men do exist, but for the sake of my safety, I have to generalize’
Challenging Norms
We must challenge the structures that allow violence to persist, while also nurturing women’s femininity to avoid the imbalance we see today.
As we heal from sexual traumas, I hope we are just as committed to raising men who are mindful of the impact of their gaze, educating them to be caretakers who provide securityfor the women around them. Society needs to heal from justifying men’s abuse and weaponizing their responsibilities. Respect, consent, and equity are fundamental rights for everyone.
As much as we focus on women’s experiences and healing, it is still a two-way relationship structuring recovery, tolerance and respect within society. To promote this view, we need the mainstream-media to play its part, emphasizing the need for the dual role of masculinity and femineity in society’s construct.