{"id":3173,"date":"2025-08-29T09:37:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T09:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nccadv.org\/?post_type=news_and_update&p=3173"},"modified":"2025-09-02T15:50:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T15:50:14","slug":"addressing-domestic-violence-in-media","status":"publish","type":"news_and_update","link":"https:\/\/nccadv.org\/es\/news-and-updates\/addressing-domestic-violence-in-media\/","title":{"rendered":"Addressing Domestic Violence in Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u201cPerfect Victim\u201d Myth<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media often portrays survivors of domestic violence in narrow, unrealistic ways \u2013 having no emotional connection to the abuser, showing physical injuries, or reamining calm and passive.  This contributes to the myth of the \u201cperfect victim.\u201d  In reality, violence doesn\u2019t always look like its depiction in media.  Physical markings, strangers jumping out of the van, and \u201csomeone saving the day\u201d is not always how abuse unfolds.  Real-life violence can be subtle, complex, and committed by people the survivor knows and may even love.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Real Survivors Look Like\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Survivors come from all walks of life and experience abuse in different ways.  Some stay in relationships out of fear of losing their children, because they love their partner, or lack the resources needed to leave.  Survivors are often dismissed, stories are not believed and are blamed for not fitting the perfect victim mold.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What We Need from the Media\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The media can support empowerment advocacy strategies by including content warnings on sensitive content and centering survivor voices with consent.  Avoid blame-based framing and focus on the full complexity of abuse, not just the spectacle.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Survivor Centered Media Matters\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the media reports on domestic violence, it doesn\u2019t just inform \u2013 it shapes public opinion.  Too often, survivors are retraumatized by exaggerated coverage that focuses more on drama than healing.  We must shift the narrative.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of sensationalizing pain, the media should amplify survivor voices, highlight systemic issues, and promote resources for support and recovery.  Responsible reporting can educate the public, challenge harmful myths, and help create a culture that believes and supports survivors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Reminder to DV Agencies and DV Service Providers\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DV agencies cannot speak on an individual case without explicity, written informed consent given by the client.  This includes if the client has passed away.  The estate of the deceased may be able to give consent to share information via written informed Resease of Info documentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DV Service Providers should not speak on individual cases and instead focus on the services they offer.  This is because any survivors viewing an agency disclosing information regarding an individual case could steer them away from using their services in the future.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information, including a list of Do’s and Dont’s when working with media<\/strong>, download the full media guide here: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/nccadv.coalitionmanager.org\/resourcemanager\/resourcefile\/details\/839?&page_y=352.9687805175781<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The \u201cPerfect Victim\u201d Myth  Media often portrays survivors of domestic violence in narrow, unrealistic ways \u2013 having no emotional connection to the abuser, showing physical injuries, or reamining calm and passive.  This contributes to the myth of the \u201cperfect victim.\u201d  In reality, violence doesn\u2019t always look like its depiction in media.  Physical markings, strangers jumping […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3174,"template":"","news-and-update_category":[131],"class_list":{"0":"post-3173","1":"news_and_update","2":"type-news_and_update","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"news-and-update_category-publications","7":"entry"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccadv.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news_and_update\/3173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccadv.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news_and_update"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccadv.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news_and_update"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccadv.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccadv.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccadv.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-and-update_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccadv.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-and-update_category?post=3173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}