Thu., December 9, 2021, 8:47 a.m.
People attend a rally on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada on Parliament Hill.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
On December 6, 1989, in a misogynistic gesture of extreme violence, fourteen young women were shot dead at the École Polytechnique of the Université de Montréal.
Although perpetrated by one man, this mass femicide stems from a social environment marked by gender inequality, misogyny, colonialism, racism and other intersectional phenomena of oppression.
Femicide — the murder of a woman or girl because of her gender — is no coincidence. Although the media often portray femicide as spontaneous "crimes of passion," when a man kills his partner, it is the culmination of a history of violence in more than 70% of cases — and more frequently the result of controlling behavior of a criminal nature.
Femicide is also more premeditated, compared to the murder of a non-intimate partner. Therefore, many of these deaths are preventable, and we must use all the tools at our disposal to increase public awareness of the phenomenon and improve prevention strategies.
Read more: Polytechnique, 30 years later: a first anti-feminist attack, finally named as such
On December 6, 1989, in a misogynistic gesture of extreme violence, fourteen young women were shot dead at the École Polytechnique of the Université de Montréal.
Although perpetrated by one man, this mass femicide stems from a social environment marked by gender inequality, misogyny, colonialism, racism and other intersectional phenomena of oppression.
Femicide — the murder of a woman or girl because of her gender — is no coincidence. Although the media often portray femicide as spontaneous "crimes of passion," when a man kills his partner, it is the culmination of a history of violence in more than 70% of cases — and more frequently the result of controlling behavior of a criminal nature.
Femicide is also more premeditated, compared to the murder of a non-intimate partner. Therefore, many of these deaths are preventable, and we must use all the tools at our disposal to increase public awareness of the phenomenon and improve prevention strategies.
Read more: Polytechnique, 30 years later: a first anti-feminist attack, finally named as such
Engaging decision-makers
Public health efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic have illustrated the importance of spreading a clear message, making room for science and holding political leaders and social institutions to account in order to save lives.
As these efforts continue, we will once again mark December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women,and reflect on the pandemic of male violence that continues to take the lives of many women and girls around the world.
A woman gathers near the Women's Monument in London, Ontario, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the 2014 Polytechnique massacre.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dave Chidley
Part of our work at the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability is to monitor this extreme form of sex- or gender-based violence. As the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted, the media play a vital role in informing us about threats – how they define themselves, what aspects deserve our attention or how to address a particular issue.
In short, the media frame the problem and propose solutions. To this extent, the media can be a key mechanism for primary prevention, as long as they provide an accurate representation of the problem.
The media have a crucial role to play in the coverage of femicides, not only in raising awareness and general education, but also by actively participating in the construction of attitudes and beliefs that can contribute to prevention efforts.
In contrast, harmful portrayals, such as those depicting this type of murder as an isolated act or the work of a single person,have the effect of shining a spotlight on the victims' behaviour and suggesting (implicitly or explicitly) that they are responsible for their own deaths or marginalizing certain groups. because of their race, religion, socio-economic status, participation in the sex trade, sexual orientation or other factors.
There is also the question of those who are not represented at all. The "missing white woman syndrome" is a good illustration of the media bias in which White victims, usually from privileged backgrounds, receive significant coverage,while the case of missing and murdered Indigenous or non-white women and girls is considered to be of lesser interest to society. As a result, some women and girls remain invisible, in life as well as in death.
Part of our work at the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability is to monitor this extreme form of sex- or gender-based violence. As the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted, the media play a vital role in informing us about threats – how they define themselves, what aspects deserve our attention or how to address a particular issue.
In short, the media frame the problem and propose solutions. To this extent, the media can be a key mechanism for primary prevention, as long as they provide an accurate representation of the problem.
The media have a crucial role to play in the coverage of femicides, not only in raising awareness and general education, but also by actively participating in the construction of attitudes and beliefs that can contribute to prevention efforts.
In contrast, harmful portrayals, such as those depicting this type of murder as an isolated act or the work of a single person,have the effect of shining a spotlight on the victims' behaviour and suggesting (implicitly or explicitly) that they are responsible for their own deaths or marginalizing certain groups. because of their race, religion, socio-economic status, participation in the sex trade, sexual orientation or other factors.
There is also the question of those who are not represented at all. The "missing white woman syndrome" is a good illustration of the media bias in which White victims, usually from privileged backgrounds, receive significant coverage,while the case of missing and murdered Indigenous or non-white women and girls is considered to be of lesser interest to society. As a result, some women and girls remain invisible, in life as well as in death.
Girls gather for the annual Women's Memorial March in Vancouver in February 2021, an event held in memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The route is punctuated by stations in various places where women were last seen or found. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck More
The importance of media coverage of femicide
When it comes to accurately informing the public, the way journalists portray femicide is therefore of paramount importance. Indeed, media coverage of femicide helps to address broader issues related to violence against women and, in so doing, to raise public awareness of these crimes, their underlying societal causes, consequences and implications.
Such media coverage may include terms specific to femicide, statistics on the number of women killed by their intimate partners, support resources for victims of domestic violence, or new sources of expertise that are better qualified to treat femicide, including those who provide primary care, are involved in advocacy and research.
In addition to providing a deeper context, supported by empirical data, this type of coverage has the power to raise public awareness of the problem. Instead of reporting femicide as isolated incidents, it sheds more light on community and societal solutions.
These may include funding services for victims of violence, prevention education initiatives, legislative reforms or cultural changes, such as targeting attitudes that support or normalize violence against women.
As we honour the memory of women and girls who have died as a result of violence in Canada, we can take a critical look at how their stories are told in the media, as well as how they tell us about their deaths. We can take our analysis beyond police reports and cultural references surrounding femicide,drawing on the experience and expertise of survivors and people who have lost a loved one to violence.
It is possible to deviate from sensational and explicit reports and stop insinuating that the gestures, behaviors or lifestyles of the victims may have contributed to their deaths.
Femicide is a tragic loss. It is a gesture of extreme violence directed against women. This is a violation of human rights and a real public health issue. However, in order to accurately portray this crime, the media must take all these aspects into account.
Yasmin Jiwani, Professor of Communication Studies; Research Chair on Intersectionality, Violence and Resistance, Concordia University,
When it comes to accurately informing the public, the way journalists portray femicide is therefore of paramount importance. Indeed, media coverage of femicide helps to address broader issues related to violence against women and, in so doing, to raise public awareness of these crimes, their underlying societal causes, consequences and implications.
Such media coverage may include terms specific to femicide, statistics on the number of women killed by their intimate partners, support resources for victims of domestic violence, or new sources of expertise that are better qualified to treat femicide, including those who provide primary care, are involved in advocacy and research.
In addition to providing a deeper context, supported by empirical data, this type of coverage has the power to raise public awareness of the problem. Instead of reporting femicide as isolated incidents, it sheds more light on community and societal solutions.
These may include funding services for victims of violence, prevention education initiatives, legislative reforms or cultural changes, such as targeting attitudes that support or normalize violence against women.
As we honour the memory of women and girls who have died as a result of violence in Canada, we can take a critical look at how their stories are told in the media, as well as how they tell us about their deaths. We can take our analysis beyond police reports and cultural references surrounding femicide,drawing on the experience and expertise of survivors and people who have lost a loved one to violence.
It is possible to deviate from sensational and explicit reports and stop insinuating that the gestures, behaviors or lifestyles of the victims may have contributed to their deaths.
Femicide is a tragic loss. It is a gesture of extreme violence directed against women. This is a violation of human rights and a real public health issue. However, in order to accurately portray this crime, the media must take all these aspects into account.
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Yasmin Jiwani, Professor of Communication Studies; Research Chair on Intersectionality, Violence and Resistance, Concordia University,
Myrna Dawson, Professor and Research Leadership Chair, Sociology, University of Guelph, Jordan Fairbairn, Associate Professor, Sociology, King's University College, Western University,
Ciara Boyd, PhD Student, Sociology, University of Guelph
Jordan Fairbairn receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Ciara Boyd, Myrna Dawson, and Yasmin Jiwani do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Jordan Fairbairn receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Ciara Boyd, Myrna Dawson, and Yasmin Jiwani do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
