Engender blog

Media, power and violence against women

It's been a difficult few weeks (months? years?) for everyone who cares about speaking truth to power, and ending violence against women. We know it can be tough to wade through so much coverage about the stories which have been dominating the press recently, so we've pulled together some of the writing we've found.

We'd like to send love and solidarity to everyone finding things tough, and remind folk that Scottish Women's Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland do fantastic work to challenge violence against women in Scotland and are there to offer support if you need it. If you or someone you know is affected by the recent news cycle or is seeking advice, you can find useful numbers and resources here.

From the US

• Alexander Petri: Some interpersonal verbs, conjugated by gender (WashingtonPost)
• Christine Blasey Ford: Opening Statement for Senate Hearing (NPR)
• Emily Jane Fox: After Ford's accusation, Holton-Arms alumnae wrestle with their own truths - together (VanityFair)
• Christina Cauterucci: Toxic bro culture finally found a news peg (Slate)
• Nicole Bedera: Twitter thread on adolescent sexual violence
• Rebecca Solnit: The Brett Kavanaugh case shows we still blame women for the sins of men (Guardian)
• Jennifer Weiner: The patriarchy will always have its revenge (NYTimes)
• Kimberlé Krenshaw: We still haven't learned from Anita Hill's testimony(NYTimes)
• Amanda Terkel: How little has changed since Anita Hill testified against Clarence Thomas (HuffPost)

From Scotland

• Andrew Learmonth: Rape Crisis Scotland raise concerns over Miles Briggs hearing as more details emerge (National)
• Rape Crisis Scotland slam Tory MSP over 'intimidating' sexual harassment probe (DailyRecord)
• Rape Crisis Scotland: Response to Miles Briggs judgement (Twitter)
• Rape Crisis Scotland: Speaking out - and speaking out (RCS)
• Severin Carrell: Salmond crowdfunder 'could put off sexual assault victims' (Guardian)
• Monica Lennon: Alex Salmond using his celebrity to crowdfund legal battle is a cheap and nasty stunt (Daily Record)
• Suzanne Moore: Alex Salmond is using crowdfunding to signal his power: that's wrong (Guardian)

We know how powerful writing on gender inequality and violence against women can be when it's done well, and in Scotland we are fortunate to have strong voices for women's equality in journalism and the wider media, recognised yearly at the Write to End Violence Against Women Awards which are coordinated by Zero Tolerance. Now in their sixth year, these awards celebrate and highlight writers who raise awareness of gender inequality and violence against women, and categories cover paid and unpaid journalism and writing, as well as a special youth category for the Year of Young People. This year's award ceremony takes place on Wednesday 28th November at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh.

Over the summer, we've been involved in work with academics, journalists, campaign groups and women's equality organisations on the Gender Equal Media Scotland project. The project brings together those who want to see a Scottish media which treats women equally – as employees, as contributors and as subjects of media attention. Events on gendered representations in the press and gendered patterns of employment in media have brought together speakers from across the country and beyond to address issues of representation of women in news rooms, reporting on violence against women, and more.

The importance of coverage that challenges the structures of gender inequality and that centres women's stories and experiences has never been more clear, but we still have a ways to go. Hang in there.

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