The way we communicate about violence against women is crucial. Recent weeks have been a whirlwind for those who have encountered sexual assault and harassment. The allegations against high-profile figures sparked an avalanche of women sharing their experiences. This movement—reinvigorated by actress Alyssa Milano’s #MeToo campaign—has encouraged countless individuals to step into the light and unveil their stories of workplace misconduct, echoing the decade-old initiative by activist Tara White.
While the flood of stories is empowering, it can also be overwhelming. It can feel like an insurmountable challenge to confront the myriad of issues we face as women. But there’s a deeper reason for this sense of despair. The oppressive treatment of women is intricately woven into our language, often going unnoticed.
Author and educator Ryan Peters emphasizes that violence against women is fundamentally a men’s issue. A quote from him has recently gone viral, highlighting the scope of the problem in our society:
“We discuss how many women were assaulted last year rather than how many men perpetrated those assaults. We focus on the number of girls who faced harassment, not how many boys were responsible. We even track how many teenage girls became pregnant without acknowledging how many boys were involved.”
This passive language shifts the focus away from men and onto women, subtly reinforcing that violence is something that merely happens to women. The phrase “violence against women” itself is problematic because it implies that these acts occur without any active agents; it feels like an unfortunate happenstance rather than a crime committed by men.
Consider how we frame these situations. Instead of asking, “How many women were assaulted?” we could ask, “How many men commit these acts?” Switching our language can profoundly influence the narrative and power dynamics at play. “Violence against women” isn’t just a women’s issue; it’s a societal problem deeply rooted in male accountability.
In his TED talk, Peters argues, “Issues related to gender violence are often mischaracterized as women’s problems that some supportive men help with. But I contend these are primarily men’s issues.” He points out that discussions on domestic and sexual violence frequently erase male involvement. We must ask ourselves why men rarely face accountability in both actions and language.
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In summary, the way we discuss sexual violence influences societal perceptions and accountability. By shifting our language, we can reshape the narrative and encourage a more responsible dialogue about these critical issues.