Student ID: 20013464 Module: Gender, Violence and Abuse Due: 18th November 2022 Word Count: 2179
Critical Analysis of a Media Piece The presence of digital feminism can be viewed as “extremely positive in generating community, connection and support for feminist views, and solidarity in calling out rape culture.” (Mendes, Ringrose and Keller, 2018, p.244), in which multiple concepts, theories and social perspectives can be represented to further social understanding of violence against women and girls (VAWG). In this specific media piece, which was posted on social media by the campaign group ‘Our Streets Now’, gendered violence is analysed through both a micro and macro lens which successfully develops such ‘connection’ between women who have been affected by male violence specifically. The main concepts viewed in the piece are Liz Kelly’s ‘Continuum of sexual violence’ (Kelly, 1987) which recognises the shared systemic characteristic of patriarchal power in all forms of VAWG. Similarly, Susan Brownmiller’s radical theory is echoed throughout the piece, in which the use of first-person writing allows for a direct reading to the male population, who are portrayed as being somewhat responsible for the current climate of gendered violence. Furthermore, the media piece addresses multiple dilemmas which revolve particularly around the treatment of women in society, rather than including specific crimes such as domestic violence, rape or street harassment. These dilemmas include the problem of police brutality, the denial of women’s experiences, the fixation on rape mythology and the normalisation of gendered violence. Consequently, the purpose of this media piece is not to raise awareness that
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