Media Representation of Gender-based Violence Using a Multimodal Discourse Approach for Understanding, Reframing and Transforming Conflict

Abstract: Interrogating media representation of gender-based violence (GBV) against women critiques power imbalances and social inequities using a critical discourse studies (CDS) approach across diverse postcolonial Global South contexts including Caribbean nations, involving wider First-Third World imbalances (Seddighi & Tafakori, 2020; Shome, 1996, 1998, 2019; Shome & Hegde, 2002). This exploration highlights media reports representing GBV. CDS concerns global-local power struggles (Steele, 2020a), white supremacy activism (Nakayama, 2020), data sample hegemonies (Afifi & Cornejo, 2020) and disciplinary fragmentation (Ramasubramanian & Banjo, 2020; Song, Eberl, & Eisele, 2020). It critiques privileged-marginalized contests (Hoppe, 2020), relationships (Cook & Trundle, 2020) and theatre-based GBV activism (Steele, 2021b). It interrogates media coverage of First Peoples’ recognition (Steele, 2020b) and language rights (Steele, 2022, in press), stakeholder contestation (Steele, 2016), conflict management among the young (Steele, 2008), and communication-culture-conflict intersections (Steele, 2021a). Findings show how perception and communication about GBV representation may be reframed using examples.

Keywords: Communication media, gender-based violence, power/race representation, Critical Discourse Studies

Topic: COMM   |   Format: Full Paper