Gender-based violence and the challenge of visual representation

Abstract

Considering the efforts to resolve the societal phenomenon of violence against women (VAW), universal in all countries, information, awareness-raising and the role of the media are regarded as key targets. According to the European Commission (2010), the audiovisual sector is the most important source of information. Consequently, this paper aims to discuss the attitudes towards and the manifestations of the visual representation of violence against women. The discussion is based on existing findings about depictions in the mainstream media and on the analysis of visuals provided by the anti-violence against women movement.

Keywords: gender-based violence, violence against women, representation, symbolic violence, visual communication, media.