Women and Gender-Based Violence: A Perspective on Sustaining Womanhood in the Twenty-First Century

Literature, journalism, and art have all at one point, focused on women and gender-based violence (GBV), which reflects the social and cultural dynamics of oppression, resistance, and power. In order to emphasise the unpleasant facts of GBV and its widespread presence in society, writers and artists have utilised their platforms throughout history. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and The Colour Purple by Alice Walker are two literary works that examine systemic oppression of women, particularly women of colour, and sexual abuse. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Toni Morrison’s Beloved and The Bluest Eye makes one wonder about different perspectives of gender based violence. The public’s perceptions of GBV have also been shaped and challenged by the media. Movies like Monster and The Accused show real-life hardships of women who have been abused and subjected to social censure, igniting discussions about justice and victim-blaming. Artists like Frida Kahlo and Artemisia Gentileschi have used their art to challenge patriarchal abuse and give survivors a voice by graphically depicting their own experiences with gender-based violence. In order to confront the complexity of gender-based violence, literature, media, and artwork together as potent mediums that provide a forum for both empowerment and critique.

Keywords: Media Representation, Feminist Literature, Gender-Based Violence