When it comes to understanding violence against women, there's an extremely effective model that helps visualise how pervasive and insidious it is. Picture a pyramid, on the bottom are bigoted attitudes and beliefs, sexist jokes, problematic language, the most socially acceptable expressions of misogyny frequently dismissed under the guise of plausible deniability. Further up is cultural stereotypes and stigma, followed by threats and harassment, progressing to rape, sexual assault and abuse.
At the top is femicide, the murder of women as an act of gender based violence. There's hardly a news cycle that passes without ever more stories of women being killed. We are living in a culture of perpetual mourning, failing women not only throughout their lives, but in the way we treat them posthumously.
I want to reiterate the importance of style guides, professional advice given to newspapers to cover topics with the requisite sensitivity, to avoid sensationalising a crime or perpetuating the attitudes which facilitate it. Read more Lennie Lennie Pennie calls for criminal justice system to put victims first Coeliac disease isn’t a fad, or a preference, it’s a serious condition Every time a story involving violence against women and girls gets reported, it's clear either some outlets are unaware of the style guides, or they're ignoring them altogether. In an era where headlines are often the first and final engagement readers have with the news, we must ensure they prioritise cla.