Page 23 - The Staunch Test

THE STAUNCH TEST

Why are the Staunch Test ratings useful?

The Staunch Test categories are quite different from the ratings films are given
by classification boards — and they are more specific. With its Pass, Fail and
Debate tags, applying The Staunch Test simply makes it clear when violence to

women is on the menu, and helps gauge the prevalence. But it’s not a form of
censorship. For one thing, we have no say in what is or isn’t shown on any
platform in any territory. More importantly, censoring what people choose to
write, make, act in or view is not our aim. All we want to do is highlight
something that is cause for concern among film and TV makers, actors and
audiences alike, and among many people working tirelessly to end violence
against women and girls. We want people to notice. To stop and think. And to

talk about why it’s considered OK to show women being harmed, frightened,
injured and killed so often that we’ve grown numb to it.

Why women? There’s a conversation or two to be had about why it’s fine to
endlessly show women being brutalised when it would not be acceptable to
repeatedly depict any other group of people receiving the same kind of
treatment. Can you imagine the outcry if black, Asian, gay, or disabled characters
were shown being beaten, murdered or sexually assaulted, night after night on

our screens? It wouldn’t happen. Why? Because we are not desensitised to how
we depict protected groups. In fact, we are rather anxious about it. The language
we use, the stories we tell, the actors we cast, the offensive stereotypes we’re
learning to avoid — all these elements are carefully navigated these days
because the affected groups have lobbied for change and accountability in the
film and television industries, or because society has become a little more

enlightened and connected the dots. Women are not a protected group, but
they are more than 50% of the population, and that ought to count for
something.

We predict that, over time, it will seem as inappropriate and demeaning, and
prove as uncommercial, to keep casually depicting women as victims of physical
and sexual violence for entertainment. As inappropriate as it would be to
endlessly depict people from a protected or otherwise respected group the
same way.