‘Himpathy’: Rape Myths Still ‘Deeply Embedded’ in UK Press Reporting, Analysis Finds

Britain’s media continues to peddle lazy tropes when reporting on rape, according to new analysis from women’s safety campaigners. 

A new guide for the media is based on analysis of twelve years’ coverage in the mainstream British press. The resource finds a number of rape myths persist in media coverage, shaping the narrative around sexual violence and influencing public attitudes to it. 

This includes the dominance of the myth that “all rape is violent ‘stranger rape’”. “In reality, most perpetrators are known to the victim and rape does not always involve additional physical violence,” the campaigners argue.

And the report points to “hierarchies of victims and perpetrators,” with wealthy, high-status perpetrators afforded greater sympathy, while Black or other marginalised women get less media attention than white women’s cases.

It finds: “Information from the small number of cases that gain media coverage is likely to be particularly influential in shaping the public’s understanding of rape, skewing society’s perceptions about this violence and fuelling harmful, sexist myths about who should be believed and why.”

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The guide, Reporting on Rape: Changing the Narrative, is authored by academic Alessia Tranchese for the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW).

Of particular concern to the authors is that media outlets almost always use phrases like “rape allegations” when discussing sexual crimes.

Analysis of media coverage in recent decades suggests that the word ‘reported’ used to be far more common in similar coverage. They argue that the word ‘reported’ rather than ‘alleged’ or ‘accused’ is more fitting and less sceptical of the victims. 

And while “overt victim-blaming” has become less socially acceptable, a “subtler myth” that women lie about rape has replaced it, EVAW argues, despite false allegations being “exceptionally rare”.

The authors share a cutting description of how men are sometimes treated as the ‘victims’ of rape allegations in media coverage – it is, they argue, an expression of “himpathy”.

That is defined as “The excessive sympathy sometimes shown towards male perpetrators of sexual violence”, as per the feminist philosopher Kate Manne in 2017. 

And when powerful men are convicted of violence against women, they are often referred to as “disgraced” or “perverted” – rather than calling them what they are: rapists. 

“Journalism operates within wider social structures that put men in a position of power in relation to women and girls. While not prescriptive, using the above as a guide for reflecting on the language we use will help challenge tolerance of sexual violence as well as myths and stereotypes about victims and perpetrators,” the campaigners argue.

The report also notes: “Contrary to common depictions of rape in popular culture, in British law, the definition of rape does not include additional physical violence, and most victims know the perpetrator.

“Almost half of all rapes of women are perpetrated by their partner or ex-partner. In 85% of all rapes of women, the victim knows the perpetrator. And more than 1 in 5 victims were unconscious or asleep when they were raped. Yet media reporting of rape continues to reinforce the ‘violent stranger’ myth.” 

Professor Chris Frost, Ethics Council chair at the National Union of Journalists, told Byline Times: “Journalists play an important role in informing the public through their reporting and language used in coverage of rape must be accurate, ensuring adherence to the NUJ’s Code of Conduct.

“With a duty to carry out their work ethically, journalists should avoid harmful stereotypes that portray false narratives of rape, and crucially, victims too. The NUJ encourages reporters to review the new guidance and ensure responsible journalism at all times.”

The new guidance also claims that the media often makes a strong association between rape, violence and death, which is “helping to fuel myths” the campaigners say.  

The conflation of the three “mean[s] victims may not immediately understand that what happened to them was rape, meaning they will not access the support and justice they are entitled to.”

“They can also impact the way the criminal justice system understands rape and impact which victims are taken seriously.”

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Hinting at coverage of the trial of dozens of men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot in France, Andrea Simon, Executive Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said: “Recent months have shown just how far we have to go to change narratives around men’s violence against women…The media is a key player in preventing violence against women and girls due to its role in shaping public attitudes and awareness.”

She added: “We know journalists are often constrained by working within a legal, social and judicial system that is rooted in inequality. But with this resource we are hoping to provide opportunities to reflect on the language used to talk about rape and begin to shift some of society’s harmful myths and stereotypes about victims.”

Alessia Tranchese, Senior Lecturer in Communication and Applied Linguistics at the University of Portsmouth and author of the resource, said: “Often, rape myths are not expressed in such blatant terms but can be more subtly embedded in discourse, especially in a more “progressive” society. As rape myths evolve and adapt, they become harder to dismantle.

“Women’s words are presented as allegations, rather than reports, that need to be substantiated by facts. Men’s words – especially white men and celebrities – are presented as denials that need no justification. These are often reinforced with [words like] ‘vehemently’, ‘strongly’, ‘vigorously’, ‘categorically’, ‘strenuously’.. 

“The aim is to not stop at changing surface language choices, but to challenge the cultural narratives behind those choices.”

Rape Crisis England & Wales’ 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Anyone affected by sexual violence can call free on 0808 500 2222 or talk online here.

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