EPU Research Paper for Summer Term 2009

Topic
Information or Oppression: An analysis of Media Coverage and Portrayal of
Violence against Women in Uganda

By
Machrine Birungi
machrine@gmail.com
European University Center for Peace Studies
Schlaining – Austria

Reader: Prof Gal

Abstract: This paper seeks to analyze how violence against women is depicted in the
media in Uganda. The United Nations declaration on the elimination of violence
against women describes " Violence against women is a manifestation of historically
unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over
and discrimination against women by men to the prevention of the full advancement
of women, and that violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms
by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared to men".

Several women in Uganda have been targeted of the recent rise in the new wave of
crime targeting mainly women and children. Women have been caught up in a wave
of both inter and intra domestic violence as a result of relationships gone bad and
sometimes family misunderstandings. Women have also been targets of one of the
most heinous crime- Human Sacrifice or Ritual Murders. Under the ritual murders,
the perpetrators target women and children because they are very easy to woo, are
unsuspicious and less likely to fight back if they sense something fishy against their
lives. Evidently, the women and children are being targeted because of the gender
stereotypes still prevalent in many African cultures that portray the woman as the
weaker sex, submissive members of society and defenseless species of human beings.

The media exposure of women as victims of violence has been rather sensational,
sloppy and devoid of serious analysis. Obviously violence remains one of the biggest
threats to the security of the women and children in many communities. The media
actually tends to create significant perceptions about feminist and masculinity in the
society.

Some authors have actually argued that the end result of all this is that men become
objectified as masculine, while women become objectified as feminine.

This paper therefore will seek to examine the validity of my hypothesis: Violence
against women is largely of news value to the media because it provokes public
interest and confirms the deep rooted stereotyping, but doesn’t advocate for a change
in the gender stereotyping that still exists in our communities.

The paper discusses whether such factors as the characteristics of the victim, the
nature of violence inflicted on the woman, the class and demographics play any role
in how the media reports about the violence inflicted on women. But it will also be
worthy to note that at the end that the media tends to represent women according to
the societal constructions of the genders and the media reinforces these constructions
and only tries to strike a balance in the portrayal of women as victims of violence.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 2

Content
Chapter 1: Introduction………………………………………………………………4

Chapter 2: Role of Media in Uganda…………………………………………………6

Chapter 3: Content Analysis of the Stories about women as Victims of Violence……9

Chapter 4: Tools Used By Media to Reinforce Gender Stereotypes………………..29

Conclusions ………………………………………………………………………29

Recommendations………………………………………………………………….30

Introduction
Violence against women is increasingly becoming a major security threat to the
existence of the women folk in communities.

This paper is based on the rising spate of crime in Uganda- targeting mainly women
and children. Bunch (1999) states "Imagine a people routinely subjected to assault,
rape, sexual slavery, arbitrary imprisonment, torture, verbal abuse, mutilation, even
murder – all because they were born into a particular group. Imagine further that their
sufferings were compounded by systematic discrimination and humiliation in the
home and workplace, in classrooms and courtrooms, at worship and at play. Few
would deny that this group had been singled out for gross violations of human rights.
Such groups exist. Its members comprise half of humanity. Yet it is rarely

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 3

acknowledged that violence against women and girls, many of whom are brutalized
from cradle to grave simply because of their gender, is the most Pervasive human
rights violation in the world today. (Bunch, 1999, p. 1)

Violence against women and children is increasingly becoming a security threat in

many communities across Uganda. The worst case scenario is that serious violence is
targeted at women and children often looked at the weaker gender in the society.

The media is seen as a crucial actor in shaping the trend, focus and the publics
perception about women caught up in the trap of violence.

According to Nancy Berns in her study, " Degendering the problem and gendering the
blame: Political Discourse on women and violence" analyzing popular representations
of social problems is important because individuals draw on these sources when
constructing their understanding of issues such as violence against women.1

Berns (2001) further notes that; "Newspaper columns, Magazine articles, films made
for TV movies, television special reports and talk shows are all public arenas where
images of domestic violence are constructed, debated and reproduced. From these
resources, individuals construct there own conceptions of what is normal and
acceptable." 2

Also important to note is the fact that that the worst form of sensational and
oppressive reporting occurs when the woman is the perpetrator of the violence. In
most cases women who have cut off the penises of their husbands have attracted front
page attention in the local newspapers. But the fact that the woman could have acted
in self defense is never the pedestal upon which the entire story rotates.

As Frieda Werden of the Women's International News Gathering Service (WINGS,

www.wings.org) points out, "Men's violence against women is treated like a "dog
bites man" story, and women's violence against men as a "man bites dog" story. Thus
the amount of coverage in mainstream media is inversely proportional to the actual
prevalence of these kinds of violence, and gives a false impression".3

The purpose of this paper therefore is to analyze how the media's portrayal of the
woman as victim of violence further advances the aspect of women stereotyping. I
will analyze five articles written by an independent News Agency – Uganda Radio
Network. (URN).

The five articles under review were picked from Uganda Radio Network the only
privately owned News Agency in Uganda. The News agency is the main source of
News for more than 50 Radio stations across the country, and also a great source of
news for individual subscribers', corporations and some government departments.

1
Nancy Berns, Degendering the problem and gendering the blame: Political Discourse on women and
violence, p 263
2
ibid
3
WINGS www.wings.org

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 4

This paper will study the findings from the articles under investigation and highlight
the stereotypes represented and analyses how these media stereotypes affect the
perceptions of the readers and the public.

The paper will also seek to look at the characteristics of the women as housewives,
Mothers, and workers and overall as the weaker sex in the society. From the articles
under review it will become clear that violence, particularly against women, is caused
by the abuser's desire for power and control. The articles will also show that violence
can be inflicted on any woman regardless of their status, age, tribe or cultural
backgrounds.

Globally, the UN 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action state:

"Violence against women is a manifestation of the historically unequal power

relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and
discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of women's full
advancement. Violence against women throughout the life cycle derives essentially
from cultural patterns, in particular the harmful effects of certain traditional or
customary practices and all acts of extremism linked to race, sex, language or
religion that perpetrate the lower status accorded to women in the family, the
workplace, the community and society. Violence against women is exacerbated by
social pressures, notably the shame of denouncing certain acts that have been
perpetrated against women; women's lack of access to legal information, aid or
protection; the lack of laws that effectively prohibit violence against women; failure
to reform existing laws; inadequate efforts on the part of public authorities to
promote awareness of and enforce existing laws; and the absence of educational and
other means to address the causes and consequences of violence".4

Role of the Media in Uganda

The media in Uganda has for the last 15-years operated in liberalized environment.
With more than 100 radio stations, close to 10 television stations and more than 10
newspaper publications, the significance of the media in Uganda cannot be under
rated.

The role of the media in Uganda is mainly three fold – Information, education and
Entertainment. In addition the media plays a crucial role in mobilizing people for a
common cause. The Mass Media is considered a strong pillar of modern society.
Today there is a strong association between the development of mass media and social
change, and the degree and direction of this association is still an issue of scrutiny.
4
UN Beijing Declaration 1995

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 5

Today Radio stations are playing in a competitive stage, a stage where the need for
information, education and entertainment are important for the population. (Josh
1991), Communication plays an important role in the development of nation. It is an
integral part of development Societies can not change or develop without
communication, as it is the process of social interaction through which people are
influenced by ideas, attitude, knowledge and behavior of each other.5

Evidently, the media plays a vital role in transmitting these ideas, knowledge and
attitudes and allows people to express their perceptions about the society in which
they belong.

The recent wave of crime against women in Uganda has brought to the limelight
several questions about the role of the media in the country. The paper seeks to
explore whether the media strives to inform or to oppress the subjects of stories
whenever they cover a specific story.

In an atmosphere of competition to become popular through faster dissemination of

information, the risk of providing sloppy sided or scanty information becomes high,
and this in turn leads to oppression for both the subjects in the story and the readers.
The subject is often given unfair treatment through the descriptive statements and the
audience is oppressed by the scanty information which makes decision making
difficult.

From the stories under review in this paper, it will be found out that oftentimes the
media has no respect for the sentiments and ethics of the readers and listeners despite
the fact that they have an immense power to influence the masses. Story coverage on
domestic violence against women is depicted in the form of Media dictating content
then a friend providing a piece of information to another friend in need.

How are women depicted? Is violence against women newsworthy? If the story on
violence against women is covered as a piece of information that must be made
known in the public domain? Or is it just further oppression of the women folk
through the stereotyping.

The paper will however conclude by analyzing the fact that media coverage of
violence against women is rooted and framed by societal and cultural perceptions of
the woman in the society. The media actually tends to frame the news based on biases
that already exist in the societies.

Meyers (1997) says that " Violence against women is framed by the news so as to
support, sustain and reproduce male supremacy…the result is that the representation
of women who are the victims of sexist violence polarizes around the culturally
defined" virgin whore" or " good-bad-girl" dichotomy so that the women appear to be
either innocent or to blame for their victimization"

Most often an article portraying the woman as victim of violence always pauses many
questions in the minds of the reader. What went wrong? Why did she accept the lift?

5
Joshi U. (1999), “Textbook of Mass Communication and Media”, Anmol Publication Pvt. Ltd., New
Delhi.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 6

Why didn’t she smell a rat in the first place? Why did she indulge in passive and risky
behavior? Where were the neighbors or caretakers?

The consequences of media coverage, either detrimental or beneficial, are sometimes

a result of other tendencies within society. Sociologists would agree that the power of
the media lies in its ability to construct, and circulate social understanding and social
imagery in modern societies. "Therefore it is argued that the mass media is used as
“an instrument”, both more powerful and more flexible than anything in previous
existence, for influencing people into certain modes of belief and understanding
within society".6

It is worthy noting that any article on violence against woman is covered as a crime
story and the reason such an article is brought into the public domain is because of
what has characteristically become to be known as the news values that act as the
compass for news selection. The story on violence reflects such news values as
conflict, sex, prominence and sometimes unusualness or novelty.

In a series of studies conducted by Ericson et al (1987, 1989, and 1991) in presenting

a violent story the journalists act less like a simple sender of a social fact and more as
a gate keeper.7 I agree with this argument for as long as the social factor is used as the
journalists peg line to construct a story and deliver it to the audience. But this
argument also must be seen in light of the fact that sometimes journalists in covering
the story on violence are not simply senders but rather triggers of reactions. The social
fact must have a strong basis as to why the journalist must pull the trigger of his pen
and this leads us again to the look at the news values.

Analysis of the Key Five Stories

The story headlines in the table below were selected from Uganda Radio
Network. They were selected randomly over a period of one month.

Story/ article Headline Source

6
www.dimdima.com/forumnw/message.asp...Role of the media in society
7
Ericson, R, P. Baranek and J. Chan (1991) representing order: crime, law and justice in the news
media. Milton Keynes: open university press.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 7

 1. Tolerance of Domestic Violence is Uganda Radio Network
Putting Women at Risk for
Murder – Psychologists.
(18/12/2008)

2. Bride Price Enslaved Me - Uganda Radio Network

Domestic Violence Victim
(31/12/2008)

3. Inzikuru Refuses to Testify Uganda Radio Network

against her Husband (16/12/2008)

4. Tororo Women Narrate Their Uganda Radio Network

Experience of Domestic Violence
(07/01/2009)

5. Most Information On Domestic Uganda Radio Network

Violence Not Recorded- Center
For Domestic Violence
(07/01/2009)

Article One: Tolerance of Domestic Violence is Putting Women at Risk for

Murder – Psychologists.

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 The tolerance of domestic violence is a leading cause of the murder of
women. Brenda Kugonza, advocacy officer at the Center for Domestic
Violence Prevention, says many women are silent about the physical abuse
they are suffering at the hands of their partners. She blames fear of
discrimination and lack of family and community support for the continued
silence of married women who are being violated by their husbands. In
recent weeks the media has been awash with reports of the murder of
women by their partners or husbands. The most high-profile case involves
claims that the Arua Municipality MP, Hussein Akbar Godi, was behind the
killing of his wife a week ago. There has been no evidence produced to
implicate Godi, but he remains behind bars as the police investigate the
matter. Brenda Kugonza says very few women report their abuse to the
police. She challenges the police to assist in identifying cases of domestic
abuse and offering support to those involved. Theodora Niringye, a
professional counselor with the Wakisa Ministries Pregnancy Crisis and
Counseling Center, says the cause of domestic violence is not a
straightforward matter. She explains that partners often resort to violence
because of frustration over finances, sexual dissatisfaction and depression.
Niringiye says that contrary to popular belief, it is women in the working class
who are the greatest victims to domestic violence. She explains that
because of their perceived social standing very few working class women
are willing to admit to the abuse and report it to the authorities. Niringiye
says the solution to this problem lies in empowering women to appreciate
their roles in marriage and stand up for their rights.

Analysis of article one

Who: many women- the article does not reflect upon a single case but rather
generalizes the situation. "Many women are silent about the physical abuse they suffer
…" The story portrays women as subjects and objects of the violence. The
generalization is a stereotype strategy for the media that helps enforce the message
"they are all the same, defenseless, helpless and condemned in self pity". This story
does not single out a case or some cases that actually show that woman A and B failed
are silent about the physical abuse they are going through.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 9

What: Silent –The article uses the word silence to emphasize the passive nature of a
typical Ugandan woman. She is submissive not expected to fight back or defend
herself. The article does not come up with a conclusion that the women can't fight for
their rights nor can they fight for their defense. This quote best summarizes how the
women's status is reflected when faced with violence. "She blames fear of
discrimination and lack of family and community support for the continued silence
of married women who are being violated by their husbands".

This statement is a negative stereotyping of the women's image. The statement is

oppressive to the women and the reporter did not take a critical analysis of its
implication in the story. For instance it would have been vital for the reporter report
the consequence and not the stereotype fact. The reporter should have sought to find
out why there is lack of family and community support. Again is this scenario
prevalent all across the Ugandan communities or its just rooted in distinct tribes and
cultures? If there is lack of family and community support for the married women
then this statement warrants investigation.

When: Recent weeks. This is still reflective of how the media perceives violence
against women.

Where: Communities. The community is also depicted as passive and not active for
as long as the violence is inflicted on the women. The story shows that the community
and the families do not provide any form of support, Again the reporter does not
investigate deep to find out how realistic that statement is on the ground. He uses the
make believe technique which the reader must go with. As long as the journalist does
not ask the critical questions pertaining to violence against women, it becomes
difficult to provoke a thoughtful process in the readers mind. Above all the debate is
narrowed down to the typical stereotypes which does; little to change the patriarchal
perceptions and deeply held values.

Why: very few women willing to admit to abuse inflicted on them partly because
there is no societal support for their plight. Now that we know that from the story,
what does the reporter in this story do to stir this argument from the current position
to a future positive position? Evidently there is nothing to this statement. Instead the
reporter shifts focus from the woman as the victim to the normative sources.- Brenda
Kugonza, advocacy officer at the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention and
Theodora Niringye, a professional counselor with the Wakisa Ministries Pregnancy
Crisis and Counseling Center.

From a critical point of view again the report plays more of the oppressive role than
the information role, Because the choice of sources also offer no choices for the
woman who is a victim of violence. The advocacy officer merely tells the reader that
the women are still helpless, their rights are being thwarted straight in their faces and
because of discrimination and lack of community support they have been condemned
into an abyss of continued suffering. The reader at this point would have sought to
know from the advocacy officer what role they are playing in suppressing the
violence inflicted on women. Instead the reporter suppresses this question if it was
ever on his mind and instead dwells on the official perception of the advocacy officer
whether it made sense or not. The reader is denied the vital information for action.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 10

The professional counselor quoted in the story, tries to give a solution to violence
against women. – "Niringiye says the solution to this problem lays in empowering
women to appreciate their roles in marriage and stand up for their rights". But again
the reporter does not ask the vital question- what kind of empowerment do the women
need to stand up for their rights? To speak out? To defend themselves? Do they need
to be empowered with guns to fight off their "enemy" husbands? Do they need to be
empowered with knowledge and information in order to understand their rights or do
they need to be empowered with actual fighting skills so that they are not just the
passive passengers in the journey of marriage? By living these questions unanswered,
the reporters served more than to inform the audience of an on going vice in society
but rather went ahead to suppress the vital information that would be important to the
oppressed women.

The word "empowerment" is used in a matter of fact manner that does little to provide
vital clues and information. It further shows a total detachment by the reporter from
the story he or she is writing about. There is also lack of empathy which seemingly is
a strong inhibition to the reporter's ability to ask more probing questions on this issue.

Diction (stereotype choice of words): Silent, suffer under hands of partners,

discrimination, lack community support, empowerment. This statement best puts to
light a typical News story about Violence against women in Uganda.
" Niringiye says that contrary to popular belief, it is women in the working class
who are the greatest victims to domestic violence. She explains that because of their
perceived social standing very few working class women are willing to admit to the
abuse and report it to the authorities".

The article above does not cite a single woman victim as a primary source for the
issue at hand. Instead the story is framed around the normative sources like the
Advocacy officer at the center for Domestic Violence prevention and a counselor at
the Pregnancy crisis and counseling center.

It is clear from this article that the journalist tends to seek the source to the story in
terms of prominence. If something on violence is said by an advocacy officer, or
professional counselor, then it makes sense. But the voice and face of this typical
woman- the victim of violence is missing. And I will always ask why? Why talk about
violence through the professional voices and not the actual victims.

So in answering whether the story about Violence against women is Information or

oppression I would boldly say this story is more oppressive to the women. By
suppressing the voice of the victim the media does so little to bring real action against
this violence.

The diction or choice of words used in the story can best be summarized as
oppressive. Word usage in this article can be looked at from three different
dimensions,

Explicit to violence: silent woman, suffering woman, the discriminated woman and a
helpless woman in urgent need of empowerment. "Very few woman willing to admit
to abuse" again this appears to emphasize the powerlessness of the women in fighting
for their rights or rather making public their plight.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 11

Words denoting actors in the violence: family, community, woman, mother, MP. The
first statement of the story is a serious hyperbole that reflects a reporter who is out to
report without serious analysis of the issues at hand." The tolerance of domestic
violence is a leading cause of the murder of women".
One question that quickly flashes in my mind is it only women who are tolerant to
Domestic Violence? What about the men? Did the reporter strive to find out how
different the situation is for men caught up in violence?

Diction in reference to the normative sources: advocacy officer, professional

counselor at the pregnancy crisis center. The choice of words used in the story can
only tell how the story is interwoven clearly to victimize the woman and also oppress
her deep into helplessness and self pity.

Editor’s Checklist for Newsworthiness8

This now leads me to the critical analysis using the Editors checklist of news
worthiness to gauge the relevance and significance of this story.

Does the story offer new information? This story does not offer any new
information. This is a factual story based on sentiments long held and societal beliefs
and attitudes towards the women. Actually instead of saying "Many women" the new
information should have been sought in terms of numbers. For example up to 2,000
women in December feared to disclose abuse against them in their marriages… ".
Statistics tend to add more dimensions to a story that is otherwise already known to
the public.

Does it say something original? This story has nothing original to tell the audience.
Again the original statement should have been drawn from the extra effort by the
reporter trying to find out why the community and families are still acting passively
towards the plight of the women.

Does it add to ongoing coverage? The story does not add anything striking to
ongoing coverage mainly because of the banality and the mundane nature in which
the issue is handled. Violence against women is reflected as something normal that
barely tickles the reader's minds let alone to stir public debate.

Should it be told now? This story should have only been told now if there was
something strikingly new, enriching informative but not oppressive to the victims.

What impact will the story have on the audience reading it? This story has more
of a negative impact because it relays news for the sake of news and not news for the
sake of impact and action. The story doesn’t give the reader an opportunity to reflect
deep into the case of domestic violence against women and this is a type of story
whose information is heart by one ear and out it goes through another ear.

Will the story make a difference? Will it change the way the issue is seen? It won't
make a change because there is no change advocated for. There is no call for action
8
Adapted from Making the Most of the Media, Tools for Human Rights Groups Worldwide

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 12

and there is no beckon of hope for the victims of violence. Therefore chances are high
that such a story can not tilt the focus on the way women as victims of violence are
viewed.

Does it indicate a movement or change? The story does not advocate for a
movement or change.

In the final analysis I can as well concur with an American Journalist Adrienne Sere,
in her article The Missing Liberal Mind. She argues that the real problem is that the
coverage never draws connections between the individual incidents of violence and
larger patterns of misogyny and violence against women. When police brutality or a
hate crime against an individual man is covered by the news media, larger social
implications, patterns, and causes are integral to the coverage. If the news media
covered stories of violence against individual women in this way, the coverage would
not be obsessive, because it would not be "entertaining." Hollywood's romanticized
depiction (and thus promotion) of violence against women would start to be widely
understood as obscene and intolerable. If the news media highlighted rather than
suppressed the need for social change and awareness, the coverage would more likely
be viewed as serious news.9

The challenge before the media is to move beyond routine crime briefs, on the one
hand, and sensational stories, on the other, to cover what Amnesty International
describes as "the greatest human rights scandal of our times" with the depth and
seriousness that it deserves.10

Article two: Bride Price Enslaved Me - Domestic Violence Victim

9
http:/said it.org/archives/jan06/mediaglance.html
10
Ammu Joseph, When Violence is not News: http://www.indiatogether.org/2004/dec/ajo-
medviol.htm#continue

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 13

 In October 2008 the Tororo District Council repealed a repressive law
legalizing the payment of bride price and replaced it with the new District
Bridal Gift Ordinance. The ordinance, which makes bride price payments
optional and removes requirements for repayment of dowry if a marriage id
dissolved, was one of several major measures undertaken during the year
to outlaw repressive dowry laws. Despite this many women and men
remain enslaved financially and physically by bride price. Immaculate
Akello, a 45-year-old widow from Tororo district, says that for years she
was abused physically and psychologically because of bride price. Akello
was married off as a young teenager of 14 years. Her family demanded for
six cows, five goats and clothing as payment for her marriage and sent her
on her way.

Akello recalls that five days into her marriage, her husband laid down the
law. He gave her seven commandments that she was to follow strictly if
she was to remain his wife. Akello was not to leave her home in the
absence of her husband. Interaction with all her male relatives was
forbidden and she was not allowed to participate in community activities.
For Akello, taking a bath in the outdoors bathhouse was outlawed after 6
p.m. If she went to the well to fetch water, she was sent with a timer to
ensure that she returned home as soon as possible. Akello tells of an
occasion when she responded to the casual greeting of a passerby and
was beaten within an inch of her life by her husband. Her problems were
worsened by her failure to conceive a child. Believing herself to be cursed,
Akello endured the humiliation of her husband’s numerous extra-marital
affairs. Once Akello attempted to confront her husband about his
promiscuity. He picked up a charcoal stove and hit her with it, sending her
to the hospital for three days. Akello says that although her situation was
unbearable, she could not leave because her family could not repay the
bride price. She says her husband often told her that he had paid for her
and had the right to treat her as he pleased. With no financial
independence and unable to return home, Immaculate Akello was prisoner
of her marriage. This year the Constitutional Court started hearing a
petition seeking to abolish the payment of bride price as a condition for
customary marriage. The case filed by the Tororo-based Mifumi Project is
based on the argument that the bride price is an abuse of the dignity and
welfare of women. Akello was finally freed from her marriage with the death
of her husband. She remarried and gave birth to four children, three who
died in infancy. She says her first marriage robbed her of joy and now the
death of her children has robbed her of the full experience of motherhood.
Immaculate Akello is now an advocate against mandatory bride price. She
uses her experience and her position as head of the Mifumi Advice center
in Tororo to lobby and advocate for the rights of women to ensure that they
receive justice against abusive spouses.

Who: 45-year-old widow enslaved by Bride price. Akello is portrayed as a woman,

widow and a slave. Her relatives are helpless beings who can't afford to pay back the
bride price to set their daughter free.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 14

"Akello was finally freed from her marriage with the death of her husband".

What: Akello in this story is depicted as a typical submissive woman who accepted to
be enslaved by the bride price. The article quotes Akello saying that she had to endure
the suffering that was inflicted on her by her husband because the family could not
afford to pay back the bride price so she could be set free. Again in this article
Akello's husband is framed along the masculine characteristics- the man in control of
the woman he "purchased with his bride price", the man that must not be challenged
about his promiscuity, the Strong and brutal man subjecting the wife to his whims and
the man that sets the commandments that must be "strictly" followed by the woman if
"she was to remain his wife". The article depicts the woman as someone who had no
option, but to follow the commandments and had no right to question the logic behind
the seven commandments in Akello's home. In addition, Akello is portrayed as a
helpless woman who can not even question her husband's extra marital affairs because
after all she couldn’t conceive.

The reporter in this story says that Akello came out with a seven commandment script
for his wife. Some of the laws mentioned in the story are: Never leave the home
without permission from the Husband
Never interact with the husbands male relatives, never to give salutations to strangers,
never to bathe after 6:00pm. But no where is it mentioned in the story as to whether or
not the woman ever questioned her husband's seven commandments. The mention of
the seven commandments which in essence allude to the biblical commandments in
the story reinforces the stereotypes about women's passive character in society. The
enforcer of the commandments reinforces the aspect of Masculinity.

When: 30 years ago- Akello married at 14-years but the memories of her marriage are
vivid.

Where: Eastern Uganda. The place where the violence occurs sometimes matters. In
this case it’s a known fact that women from Eastern and northern Uganda are tough
and are more likely to shed off their feminine traits and put on the amour of
masculinity to safeguard themselves.

Why: Bride Price is a strong cultural tradition that has been used by some men to
ensnare women into bad relationships. In this case Akello could have actually run out
of the bad relationship but she couldn’t because the husband had paid bride price of
five goats, six cows and clothing. Society expects Akello to hang in there, whether the
marriage is good or bad. The Reporter for instance does not explore the actual role of
Bride Price, and why many women have been ensnared by the bride price is actually
intended to enslave women. This article would have given credence if the reporter
sought to find out from the man whey the bride price is used as a tool of dominance,
humiliation over the women.

The fact that the man's voice is left out of the story creates an impression that the man
is not to blame for his actions. The reporter then absolves the man of any wrong
doing. The Why? Is crucial to giving a complete story but most often the journalist

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 15

covering the violence story tends to leave it out or give scanty details which is more
oppressive to the victim than to the oppressor.

Stories of women suffering under the burden of bride price are not any longer unique
and most woman continue to accept to hang in there because society considers that as
good behavior and the media continues to portray this as a vice.

But media coverage and portrays of the women ensnared by the bride price is right
information to the general public but to a great extent this article is a tool of
oppression to the hundreds of women whose ego is affected by the mere fact that they
have to bear the brunt of pain and suffering because their husbands paid the bride
price and their families cant afford to pay back the bride price to set their daughters
free.

The article is pervasive in nature in a sense that it leaves many such a women like
Akello in a situation of self pity and feeling liable for their victimization.

"Akello says that although her situation was unbearable, she could not leave because
her family could not repay the bride price.

"She says her husband often told her that he had paid for her and had the right to
treat her as he pleased.

The quotes above show the stereotyping of gender. In the African culture the woman
has to remain submissive to her husband. Accept to be treated in whichever way
because the husband paid bride price.

The way the story ends also has a lot to say in as far as news coverage of violence
against women is concerned.

"With no financial independence and unable to return home, Immaculate Akello was
prisoner of her marriage".

Choice of diction: the word prisoner in the quote above depicts Akello as a criminal
who has committed an offence. Its not an offence for a woman to be financially weak
buts its visibly a crime for a woman to be financially weak because she cant untie
herself from the situation she finds herself however oppressive it may be. The word
"prisoner" is oppressive to the female ego and freedoms. It's actually a threat to the
young girls; the statement offers no sense of hope and also depicts the woman as so
helpless to set himself from the bondage of the bride price.

In addition the statement above is a fallacy or fallacious. It’s a statement that appears
to be true when in actual fact that it's false. For example it's not a guarantee that
women who are financially independent have not been ensnared by bride price. This
statement contrasts sharply with the statement made in the first story when Niringiye
the professional counselor says that:

"Contrary to popular belief, it is women in the working class who are the greatest
victims to domestic violence. She explains that because of their perceived social

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 16

 standing very few working class women are willing to admit to the abuse and report it
to the authorities".

In addition, the statement above implies that financial powerlessness on the part of the
women makes it practically impossible fro them to leave the abusive relationships
which is not the case.

The story above is a typical example of media bias against women. Jones (1994)
argues that asking a woman who has been abused why she hadn’t left places
judgment; it implies that the abuse will stop if the victim leaves …11

What is striking about this story is that it lacks analysis and is devoid of apathy to the
women caught up in a cycle of marital violence. The story would be less oppressive if
in the last statement the reporter and editor worked together to find out statements that
offers a solution, or brings a new approach to the way women respond to the
dilemmas of marriage.
Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has dismissed a case of domestic
abuse and assault against former
For example world steeplechase
if the conclusion was such gold
that: medalist, Dorcus
Inzikuru.
"With financial independence and awareness of her rights it would have been easy
Last week Inzikuru reported
for Akello to sether husband,
herself Bosco
free from theAcidri,
bondageto police
of the accusing him
bride price."
of violence and harassment. In her statement Inzikuru also accused Acidiri, a
student at Makerere
Such a University
conclusionBusiness School,
would have of promiscuity.
not only offered Akello and other women a statement
of hope but would also not be as oppressive as it appears.
Inzikuru claimed that the disagreements with her husband usually stem from
her concerns The
aboutlanguage
the numerous
used inwomen in his
the story life. the readers and listeners perceptions about the
frames
subject. Some scholars have discovered that the language used for domestic abuse
Inzikuru showed
mustpolice the several
be changed bruises
to create on her body
an unbiased that sheSharon
reporting. allegedly
Lamb and Susan Keon
sustained from(1995)
the beatings. In response
found that language the police
of an opened
article a casehow
can affect filethe
against
reader views the assailant
Acidri and thewith
caseregards
was scheduled for hearing today.
to the extent of guilt and punishment that is acceptable.12

Last week Inzikuru

Anotherandstudy
her wider family
"Naming held a two-hour
Knowledge: meeting
A language for that was
reconstructing Domestic
attended by Acidri and and
Violence his close friend Gender
Systematic Isaac Onangu. Acidri
Inequity" said the(2000)
C. Ashcroft meeting
found out that the way
failed to reachthe
a consensus because
media addresses Inzikuruviolence
domestic insistedhas
on accusing
an impacthim of others perceive the
on how
impregnating violence.
two other women. She claimed that the athlete abused him and
13

wanted to fight.
Ashcroft also observes that the language used by the media in portraying violence
In the hearingagainst
this morning,
women court was toldmany
has silenced that Acidri
womenandandhis brother
limited theGerald
reach of women activists.14
Miria, assaulted Inzikuru and her home in Kyebando on the outskirts of
Kampala City. Court was told that during the fight, Acidri threatened to kill
the athlete.
Article 3: Inzikuru Refuses to Testify against her Husband
The two men denied the charges against them.

Francis Matenga,
11
the Buganda Road Grade One Magistrate, asked Inzikuru to
Jones, A. Next Time she will be dead: Battering and how to stop it. Boston: Beacon Press, 1994 p
testify as a key130
witness in the case. However she surprised the court when after
swearing an oath,
12 flatly
Sharon refused
Lamb to testify
and Susan Keon.against
"Blamingher
the husband and
Perpetrator: brother-in-
Language that distorts Reality in
law. Newspaper articles on Men battering women", 1995
13
Ashcroft, C. (2000) Naming Knowledge: A language for Reconstructing Domestic Violence and
Inzikuru said systematic
she wouldGender
14
inequity.
not testify Womenthe
against andfather
Language. P 3-10
of her child.
ibid
The magistrate said he was left with no option but to dismiss the case with no
costs. MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 17

Many people that had turned up in court were left speechless. Some were
Analysis of Article 3

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 18

Who? Steeplechase gold medalist Dorcus Inzikuru is a sports celebrity who rose from
the rural hills of Arua district in Northern Uganda and hit the limelight when she won
a gold medal. Like any other celebrity her life is public and the media will always try
to sniff out something that is happening whenever she is off the field. For example
when Inzikuru was pregnant it was front page headlines. The following is one of the
headlines that appeared in the papers:

Inzikuru Pregnancy worth a

Public Alarm?

"In Inzi's Alur culture, a married

woman becomes a misfit in society
when she clocks thirty years
without an offspring".

Kevin O'Connor, A columnist in Sunday Monitor one of the Newspapers in Uganda

described Inzikuru's situation in the following statement:

"For God’s sake, Inzikuru is only 25 years old. Uganda already has more pregnant
women (and resulting poverty) than it knows what to do with. We really did not need
a pregnant Inzikuru. The contrast with the UK’s outstanding marathon runner, Paula
Radcliffe, is striking. She waited until she was 33 years before she had her first child.
Yet the same methods of family planning were available to Inzikuru".15

As Jennifer L. Pozner (former director of the FAIR Women's Desk in the US) makes
clear, controversy rather than facts sells in a "media climate that considers news a
"product" and readers and viewers "consumers16

What: this time it wasn’t the uproar about this sports celebrity's pregnancy but rather
the media was again excited by the fact that Inzikuru was caught up in a domestic
dispute with her husband. But it's not the dispute itself that set off the steam for media
attention, but rather the fact that Inzikuru took legal action, sued the husband but in
the dramatic twist of events refused to testify in court against her husband. According
to the article, " Inzikuru said she would not testify against the father of her child."
Clearly for the media implies that this was the sole reason as to why Inzikuru refused
to testify against her husband. Inzikuru is not given an opportunity to express herself
fully about any other grounds for her rejection to testify against her Husband.

What is less clear in the story is whether for instance Inzikuru had other grounds upon
which she based her rejection to testify against her husband in court. For example
does Inzikuru stand outside the traditional role when she sues her husband? And does
15
KevinO'Cornor,//www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/OConnor/Beijing_olympics_there_will_be_no_
medals_for_Inzikuru_printer.shtml
16
http://www.countercurrents.org/gender-marshall300904.htm

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 19

she jump back into her traditional values and expectations when she refuses to testify
against her husband?

She is oppressed further by the Court Magistrate who as a matter of fact asks her to
settle the matter with her husband out of court.

The basic ground picked by the media focuses on Inzikuru's maternal role. Because
she has a child with an abusive husband, seems to grant her a license to keep silent
and not spill the beans about her ordeal in public. Yes, this is acceptable and expected
in her society and in this case the article just re-enforces the ideology that is already
held by many. The article reinforces those strong stereotypes about the women's role
in society. But the reporter fell short of finding out whether Inzikuru's action could
have been influenced by the biblical teachings.

The bible says: "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted
unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the
law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a
shame for women to speak in the church."17

When? This article was written in December 2008. The time is important because it
helps reflect the nature of gender biases that still exist in the media and how they
reinforce and oppress the women.

Why? The reason why Inzikuru took Legal action against her Husband is because she
was being abused. She took the matter to police, accused the husband of violence,
harassment and promiscuity. According to the article Inzikuru also showed the police
various bruises on her body. Ironically though, when the matter is taken to court,
Inzikuru refuses to testify against the article states only one ground as to why she
refused to testify and that is the fact that she has a kid with the man. This ground is
reinforced by the presiding court magistrate who then suggests for an out of court
settlement. The magistrate's decision is just a microcosm of how the legal tends to
handle cases involving women.

Editor’s Checklist for Newsworthiness

Does the story offer new information? The story does not delve into deeper
questioning and analysis of the circumstances under which the woman as a victim of
violence refuses to testify against her husband. As a matter of fact, the reporter treats
this story as an individual problem, with an individual solution, but Violence against
women must surpass the media focus as a problem of the individual but of the
community and society as a whole.

Does it say something original? There is nothing original, surprising, inspiring or

new information regarding the way some women react when caught up in a situation
where they have to testify against someone close or dear to their lives. It is worthy
noting that from this story one realizes aspects of gender portrayal in relation to
status, prestige and power. Inzikuru is portrayed as a Woman in her status as an athlete
17
New King James Bible (I Corinthians 14:34-35)

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 20

who has become prestigious as a result of the medals she has won for her country but
stereotypically powerless when it comes to issues that relate to her gender status as a
woman. This portrayal underpins the images for the way this story is covered and the
information disseminated to the wider public.

Does it add to ongoing coverage? This article only adds negatively to ongoing media
coverage of violence against women by reinforcing the stereotypes that portray
women celebrities as cowards despite their celebrity status.

Should it be told now? Absolutely no, because there is no deep analysis and
investigation into the critical issues that could have forced the sports celebrity to hold
back. The story is worth telling if it has

What impact will the story have on the audience reading it? The impact that this
story could have on the audience would depend on how the reporter could have
chosen to deconstruct the gender stereotypes. This would have been achieved through
conducting a substantiated investigation intended to attain a different view about the
circumstances under which the sports celebrity refused to testify against her husband.
I agree with the argument by the feminists that "The precondition for the elimination
of gender violence is the deconstruction of gender roles which assume inequality
between the sexes".18 This story has no impact on the audience because like any other
story, it's treated like any other event and not an issue.

Journalists influence public perceptions through the Headlines, choice of focus and
words and reinforce these by the way the news is presented to the readers and
listeners. Hence the reporter in this story chose to report this incident by portraying
Inzikuru as "world steeplechase gold medalist" and decided to use such terms as
flatly refused, surprised court, to describe her actions in court.

Will the story make a difference? The story can't make any difference because the
reporter failed to take the challenge of digging beyond the surface of this story. There
is no connection between the violence inflicted on the celebrity and reasonable
enquiry into other factors such as cultural, social end economic aspects. For example
answers to the following sample questions would have made a whole lot of difference.
Is this the first time a woman is refusing to testify in court against her husband? How
many of such cases have been recorded over the past say five years? Could there be a
possibility that Inzikuru was coerced into withdrawing her testimony? What was the
reaction of the women in court? What about the reaction of the men? The reporter
states the Inzikuru surprised court by refusing to testify against the father of her child
but the reader is not shown who specifically was surprised by this action. So with
such questions left unanswered shows the reporter's total detachment from the critical
gist of the story, therefore making no difference on how such a scenario would be
perceived in a society which considers women cowards. This article reinforces the
media's quest into maintaining the gender stereotypes that exist in the communities.
Inzikuru is portrayed in a position that shows her feminist traits hence reinforcing the
fact that being a woman celebrity is not a passport to bowing out of what society
perceives of you as a woman.

18
http://www.femcities.at/004/Media?aid=1448

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 21

Does it indicate a movement or change? The story does not advocate for a
movement or change.

Analysis: the reporter filing this story could have done much more justice to the
women by carrying out a verifiable investigation to establish more than one reason as
to why the sports celebrity refused to testify against her husband in court. This would
have helped stir the story from the oppressive stereotypes that portray women as
cowards and by applying a differentiated view on the matter. Lesley Abdella (2008)
states that When journalists and editors become inured or even bored with these
betrayals of human dignity and human rights, their silence sends a message: violence
in the household is still accepted and acceptable – a ‘normal part of family life’.19

The article above lacks context. The reporter failed totally to provide the information
needed by the readers to understand the social, cultural, and economic context that
could have perpetuated the violence against the sports celebrity. Contextualizing the
story helps break down the stereotypes and deconstruct the way women are looked at.
For example in some cultures in Uganda it is believed that beating up a woman is part
of the initiation stage of a woman into the husband's family.

Without context, it becomes extremely difficult for the audience to understand the role
and impact of violence against the women and also shadows the understanding of the
familial relationships that are central to many communities in Uganda. Violence in
this story is evidently separated from power relations between the woman as a
celebrity and the celebrity's husband as the father of her child. This ultimately affects
the reader's analysis of how the power relations could have made Inzikuru vulnerable
and how this may have affected her actions and response in court.

Overall, the reporters' failure to place this particular incident of violence against
Inzikuru, the story merely reinforces the stereotypes against women. The readers
should have been made to understand that women are often times violently subdued
as part of a cultural perception that requires submissiveness regardless of status or
class.

In the final analysis it's important to note that the reporter ought to have backed the
story with images and descriptions that would enlighten the reader about the gendered
power relations and an analysis of how these relations create vulnerability to the
women, but also give the readers an opportunity to question and criticize their own
perceptions of Inzikuru's action.

Article 4: Tororo Women Narrate Their Experience of Domestic Violence

Anne Amweno’s portrait with a shattered head displayed at the reception of

MIFUMI project in Tororo welcomes visitors to the center. One is quick to
conclude that Amweno could not have survived the injuries because of the
multiple cuts and stitches in the portrait. MIFUMI is a community project set up

19
Study on Media and Diversity: ‘Home Sweet Home’ – Or is it? Media coverage of Domestic
Violence- http://www.media4diversity.eu/en/content/

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 22

 to fight domestic violence.

36-year-old Anne Amweno, is the face of an advocacy campaign that has been
stepped up by Mifumi Project. Amweno represents hundreds of other women in
Tororo district who have been victims of domestic violence.

Amweno was repeatedly assaulted by her husband as she together with her
helpless children gathered for a family meal.

The impact of a stool and a radio sent Amweno collapsing on the floor where she
lay unconscious until she was taken to the hospital the following morning.
Amweno was declared dead at St. Anthony hospital where she was rushed for
treatment.

With all hopes fading, Amweno’s parents returned her to Tororo Hospital where
she was revived by the doctors. She lay unconscious for one and a half months in
the hospital.

Six years after the incident, Amweno says she is lucky to be alive.

She still carries along the trauma of her violent husband who sold off all their
property before he died. Amweno develops constant headaches and is easily
irritated at the slightest provocation.

She is now employed by MIFUMI that also put up a house for her family.
Unfortunately one of her child died and 15 year old daughter was married off
while she was recovering in hospital.

Amweno is just one of the women in Tororo who are experiencing cruel domestic
situations at the hands of their spouses. Immaculate Akello, of MIFUMI, says they
register up to 200 cases of domestic violence monthly.

28- year- old Angela Adilu has been married thrice and has six children. Adilu
breaks down as she narrates her ordeal at the hands of two men one of them a
Tororo based police office.

Adilu was repeatedly flogged by her husband using a chain. Unable to bare the
pain she sought refugee at her parent’s home, where she received a cold shoulder
from her brothers. They pushed her away claiming they did not have bride price
to pay back.

Adilu grew up in a polygamous family where her mother was a victim of domestic
violence. She was abandoned by at the age of 1 and a half years

Adilu is now faced with eviction from her house for failing to pay rent of 10,000
shillings. She lives on handouts from well-wishers.

Who: the article's headline talks about the women (Plural) of Tororo who narrate their
ordeals about domestic violence. Surprisingly though, although the headline talks

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 23

about "Tororo women", the story revolves around two women Anne Amweno and
Adilu. For Amweno, whose portrait with a shattered head is displayed at the reception
of MIFUMI project in Tororo, tells the horror that women in Eastern Uganda have to
endure in their marriages. The article states that up to 200 cases of domestic violence
are registered per month.

What: the story is yet another portrait of a woman tortured, denied freedom,
subjected to abuse and denied the happiness they so desired in their marriages. The
women figures in this article are all portrayed as victims of trauma, physically
helpless, fearful, and unable to defend against the abuse. The following statements in
the story re-inforce the stereotypes.

" Amweno was repeatedly assaulted by her husband as she together with her helpless
children gathered for a family meal" Amweno is portrayed as the defenseless woman
capable of standing the torture in the presence of her own children.

" One of her child died and 15 year old daughter was married off while she was
recovering in hospital" another element of abuse". Two of the many tragedies that the
women are bound to face when the marriages go sour.

" Adilu is now faced with eviction from her house for failing to pay rent of 10,000
shillings. She lives on handouts from well-wishers". Does this mean the end of the
road for Adilu who decides to leave her marital home? This statement is a
misconception reinforced by the way the reporter chooses to emphasize the fact that
adilu lives on Handouts. The stereotypes emphasized in this story portray reinforces
the long held view about women as parasites whose survival entirely depends on the
man because most often in many rural homes, the man is the breadwinner.

When: this story is written early 2009, signaling the fact that the way women are
viewed and treated by the society has not changed.

Why: the focus of the story is reflective of the fact that the two women in the article
are stereotypically helpless, dependant on the husbands and family, and passive. Adilu
is portrayed as a woman who has been into three relationships all of which have not
worked out and ends up a destitute because her family can't pay back the bride price.

Amweno on the other hand is portrayed as passive and enduring. She endures the pain
even at the expense of tainting her image of a mother, and parent when she is
constantly beaten in front of her children.

Analysis: this article is another piece of story that delves on the editorial news
judgment based on the news values: these news values are conflict, impact and
proximity.

Conflict: there is obviously a conflict in this story. There is a conflict between the
women and the men ego's. There is a conflict between values and traditions when
Adilu decides to go back home but her family give her a cold shoulder because they
can't afford to pay back the bride price.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 24

Impact: the story is covered because of the impact it has on the subjects. The gender
stereotypes are enhanced because of how strong the impact is on their actions.

The women in the story are helpless, they stick in their marriages because society
expects them to endure and the woman who dares give up is portrayed as a total
failure depending for her survival on "handouts from the good Samaritans". The
impact reflected in this story is mainly intended to reinforce the oppression and not
just express the information which in any case is already known.

In addition this story is given coverage because it's within the proximity of the
reporter's area. To crown it all up, this story like the previous stories analyzed so far
add no new dimension to the way the reporters have covered the issue of domestic
violence against women. Again there is no deep analysis into the issue.

Evidently domestic violence in this story is depicted as a growing vice, but there is no
effort whatsoever by the reporter to dig deeper for an understanding about the reasons
behind this growing abuse against women.

The women in this article are by media analysis destined for this because that’s what
society believes.

But I strongly believe that a deeper story analysis would do well to bring something
new to the story rather than dwell on the perceptions, beliefs and values that continue
to oppress the women. Actually this story does so little to raise awareness but rather
enhances a lot of bitterness in the women readers.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 25

Article 5: Most Information on Domestic Violence Not Recorded- Center for
Domestic Violence

Seventy eight women were killed by their husbands last year, but little is known about
the number of men who were arrested and prosecuted for domestic violence. Tina
Musuya the Executive Director for the Kamwokya based Center for Domestic Violence
and Prevention says most information on domestic violence is not captured.

Police classifies cases of domestic violence alongside other common crime such as
assault, grievous harm and threatening violence, which leaves the culprits off the
hook.

Musuya says at police, victims of domestics violence are often embarrassed when they
are made to record their statements in public. She says police on some occasions
mishandle cases of domestic violence when they try to arbitrate between the warring
parties and end up forcing women to return into abusive relationships.

Caesar Nasur Rehema, the wife of Arua Municipality MP Akbar Godi was in 2008
killed in cold blood. It later emerged she had filed cases of threatening violence
against the legislator to the police, the principal suspect that were ignored.

According to Musuya women in abusive relationships are threatened with arrest if they
fail to heed to police advice to return to their homes. Musuya says domestic violence
first exhibits itself in a mild form but develops with time resulting into death.

The Officer in-charge of the family protection unit in Uganda Police, Theresa Awelo
says that without a specific law addressing domestic violence police hands are tied.
She says the police endeavors to find the entire truth behind each case of domestic.
According to Awelo many women are reluctant to report cases of domestic violence
against their spouse for fear of loosing their status since they are dependant on them.

I chose to conclude this paper with this particular story because it kind of
summarizes the gender stereotyping by the media.

Who: many women are not reporting cases of domestic violence inflicted upon them.
The article states that more than 70 women were killed in 2007, but adds that it's
unclear whether the culprits were ever brought to book for their actions. This
revelation verifies the fact that the violence is treated as another event and not an
issue worth deep investigation. The women are another crime statistic and the statistic
does not send an important signal to the reporting agenda.

What: "Police classifies cases of domestic violence alongside other common crime
such as assault, grievous harm and threatening violence, which leaves the culprits off
the hook". Again we don’t see an effort by the reporter to explore why police decides
to classify domestic violence against women as a case of assault or grievous harm and
why the victims are denied justice. The reader is not taken to the path of deep
question and analysis because the nature of reportage is tied to the editorial decision
on what the reader must know and not what the reader wants to know.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 26

Why: according to this article one of the reasons as to why many cases of domestic
violence are going unreported is because women are into intimidated into disclosing
the pain they have to go through for fear of further punishment. In another rather
ridiculous statement, the reporter states that women are reluctant to report cases of
domestic violence perpetuated by their spouses for fear of losing their status because
they depend on them. This statement is more oppressive than informative to the
average woman in Uganda. It hurts because many women have a right to liberate
themselves from abusive relationships. But the description of a woman as so much
dependent on the man to an extent of accepting the pain that comes with it, is
disastrous and reflective of the media's approach to such an issue.

Editor’s Checklist for Newsworthiness

Does the story offer new information? The story does not offer new information,
mainly because it is not new information that many cases of domestic violence against
women in Uganda are never reported to the police. The new information in this case
would be an exploration into solid grounds upon which these cases are not being
reported to police. There is just a slight hint in the story that points to the fact that
women who attempt to show a level of bravery by reporting the cases to police are
instead intimidated and ordered to go back to their marital homes. It would be
interesting for the reporter to give a comparison of the number of domestic violence
related cases reported by men Vis-à-vis those reported by the women. In addition it
would also be interesting to see what kind of women dare take matters of domestic
violence to the police.

Does it say something original? The story says nothing original. The originality of
the story is shadowed by the reporter's failure to ask follow up questions on the issues
raised in the story. Sample questions as why is the number of men who were
prosecuted for domestic abuse not known? Why is domestic violence against women
classified under cases of assault? Why does police chose to play the role of arbitrator
and not allow justice to take its course? Why is there no Law regarding domestic
violence? These are just some of the questions that would have given the story
another twist of originality and perhaps a spark of new debate.

Does it add to ongoing coverage? The story only adds to the sloppy kind of news
coverage of violence against women. There is no sense of analysis and in-depth focus
into violence as an issue. Violence is treated instead as one of those stories under the
crime beat that warrant coverage because there is conflict involved and negative
impact on the women.

Should it be told now? The story shouldn’t be told for as long as there is nothing new
to tell. I guess this is one of the challenging questions that the reporter should look at
critically and analyze whether or not this story must be told now. It's critical for the
reporter to establish why he thinks this story must be told now. Does it contain a fresh
perspective to ongoing debate? Is there a surprise twist to the events already known?
Is it just being told for the sake of information, and if so what is the relevance of this
information to the listener and readers?

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 27

What impact will the story have on the audience reading it? Again in this story it
is evident that the impact this story could have on the audience would depend entirely
on how the reporter could have chosen to deconstruct the gender stereotypes.

Does it indicate a movement or change? The story shows no trend towards the
efforts by the reporter to deconstruct the gender stereotypes that are inherent in the
descriptive text. The angle of the story must be changed, and the debate must be given
a new direction. The media must play a role in trying to propel the oar of gender into
a new direction.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 28

Chapter 4: Tools Used By the Media to Reinforce Gender Stereotypes

The media in Uganda as elsewhere in the world remains a powerful tool used by the
editors and reporters to influence Beliefs, attitudes and values of the communities.

Media is not only a tool of information but rather plays a critical role in shaping the
way communities perceived the society and the people therein.

But according to a research conducted by researchers at the department of Social

Psychology of the University of Granada, in the US, the media may unknowingly
induce some people to justify cases of violence against women which appear in the
press.20

According to the researchers, the media often looked for the assumed reasons or
causes that provoked the crime; this they say compels people to look for a reason for a
fact that should be unjustifiable in any case.

The news which is gathered, processed and disseminated to the mass audience is
usually interpreted by the audience depending on their cultural, social and individual
settings.

"Too often print and broadcast journalists, male and female, especially crime
reporters, fall back on sexist clichés and ready made scenarios instead of investigating
and accurately reporting facts. They mask rape and battering in the language of
"love". They quote police and lawyers as authoritative sources but rarely consult
battered women's advocates, who might bring a different perspective to bear on the
facts of the story. Sometimes they throw fairness and balance to the winds and
sympathize with the offender".21

Media determines the interpretation of the messages and their meanings through
language, grammar and diction or the choice of words. In this paper we realize that
the coverage of violence against women is treated in a stereotypical way where
women are portrayed as Submissive, sensitive and emotional, prudent, respectful of
the community values and beliefs.

In a story where the woman tries to liberate herself, then she is portrayed as a
rebellious, independent and selfish. The 'dream-woman stereotype is gentle, modest,
sensitive, submissive, reserved, sweet- natured and dependent.

Actually in all the five articles reviewed above, we don’t really see a woman who
plays a heroic role model for the rest of the women in the society. Some succeed in
liberating themselves from the violence but the reporter then reconstruct the story by
showing that a woman liberated from violence is not a woman liberated from trauma
and dependency. The women in some articles are described as "dependent on
handouts from good Samaritans".

20
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/media-can-indirectly-provoke-society-to-justify-
violence-against-women_100169027.html
21
Jones, A. (1994) next time she will be dead: Battering and how to stop it. Boston: Beacon.

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 29

From the stories analyzed above, it is worthy noting that the reporters have attempted
to reflect and reinforce the traditional patriarchal notions of gender which are oriented
towards oppressing the minds of women than offering solutions to them.

Recommendations

What the Media Can Do to Create New Perspectives for News Coverage of Violence
against women.

The media will remain a strong tool for information in many years to come, and it's
upon this unique strength that I advance the following recommendations.

The media in Uganda should strive to focus editorial content from the stereotypical
angles, shift from the news that glamorizes the victims of violence and conduct deeper
investigations into issues that would bring a clear picture on why violence against
women continues to eat into the fabric of family unity.

The editors ought to develop story lines, angles and images, which promote a more
positive attitude towards the plight of women as victims of domestic violence. Such
story angles would be vital in helping develop fresh perspectives towards women and
promote better relationships between the men and women in societies. Most often the
reporters tend to give a graphic description of the wounds that were inflicted on the
victim and worse still the trauma that a woman is undergoing. But such descriptions
enhance the oppression that a woman may be subjected to.

It is extremely important for the reporters to shift focus on the straight news story
about violence but rather search for the consequence story not focused at the
consequence for the women but consequences for the police, community and society
at large. A story that exploits the status of the woman, stigmatizes the personality of
the woman and stereotypes the feminine human being is only informative to a small
extent but largely oppressive.

It is also important for the reporters to provide information that is easily understood
and leave no room for multiple interpretations because such interpretations tend to
enhance the stereotypes even further. In addition to this the media ought to cover not
only the experiences of the victims but also the opinions of the victims. Allow the
victims to tell their own story. A victim of violence will speak out better if given space
to tell her own story rather than the reporter subject the victim into a question and
answer squad.

According to the Toolkit to End Violence against Women, by the US National

Advisory Council on Violence against Women and the Violence against Women
Office, "The responsible voice of the mass media is critical to communicating that
violent behavior is unacceptable. Violence against women, in any of its forms, should
never be condoned or romanticized under any circumstances."22

Overall it is important that the gender stereotypes are given critical and analytical
coverage if the audience is to revisit its perceptions towards the women. I concur with
Benedict (1992) who says that journalists must take systemic reforms to provide
22
Toolkit to end Violence against women: http://toolkit.ncjrs.org/default.htm

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 30

coverage that is accurate and fair. Some of the systemic reforms suggested by
Benedict are: providing a context with information that allows people to protect
themselves, using vocabulary that avoids words or the suggestion that the woman
deserved or enjoyed the assault and also being considerate to the families of the
victims.

Benedict (1992) also suggests that journalists would be able to obtain a balance so
that if the victims sex life is mentioned, the suspects is also mentioned, and most
importantly develop trainings for reporters and editors so that they learn to recognize
myths and stereotypes, as well as their own class and gender biases.

Bibliography

MB-EPU 2009, Media & Violence 31

Ammu Joseph, When Violence is not News:
http://www.indiatogether.org/2004/dec/ajo-medviol.

Benedict, H (1992). Virgin or Wamp: How the press covers Sex crimes. New York:
Oxford University Press.

Ericson, R, P. Baranek and J. Chan (1991) representing order: crime, law and justice
in the news media. Milton Keynes: open University press.

Joshi U. (1999), Textbook of Mass Communication and Media, Anmol Publication

Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.

Marian Meyers, News Coverage of Violence against women; Engendering Blame,

1997 Sage Publications

Nancy Berns, Degendering the problem and gendering the blame: Political Discourse
on women and violence.

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