Page 7 - The Staunch Test

THE STAUNCH TEST

Sometimes, this violence is a minor part of the plot, used to motivate another
character or show off a detective’s skills. The victim barely matters except for
her part in triggering the action. Many viewers subconsciously recognise this,
with a sense of unease hovering in the background when these scenes occur —
an uncomfortable feeling that, yet again, here’s a film or TV drama where a

woman is the victim of something horrific. Once it’s pointed out, most people
are shocked at how almost absurdly common it is, and how they’ve never fully
noticed or questioned it before. Should we be bored, irritated, offended or
indifferent to these tropes? We believe that’s a question we should ask
ourselves as consumers, and one we should challenge the film and television
industry to address.

When women are written as victims of violence, they’re reduced to a suitable victim stereotype —
a look, an age, a colour. Imagine looking at the women above and having to decide which kind of
assault each is best suited to receive.

The fact that so many women are subjected to violence in real life sits in uneasy
juxtaposition to the offerings of film and television companies that exploit and
monetise women’s fear and suffering. These industries bring us stories which,
whether clichéd or clever, simplistic or convoluted, skew public understanding
not only of the real impact of violence against women, but of who rapes, kills

and abuses women in real life.