TV and film massively overusing rape as a plotline

[OnceUponAPotato]

Wondering whether anyone else feels like this. I feel like virtually every bloody programme I watch at the moment uses rape as a plotline. And most of the time it’s the turning point in the woman’s life - she becomes the strong woman who takes control of her life, or seeks revenge, or whatever. And the scenes themselves seem to be longer and more explicit than they used to be. I’m generally ok with violence, but I’ve had to turn off shows recently because it just seems too gratuitous.

Maybe it’s because I watch too many shows that are described as ‘gritty’ or ‘hard hitting’ but really, AIBU to expect to be able to watch a programme without a rape scene?

85,000 women get raped in England and Wales every year. It's a plot on loads of shows because it's an everyday occurrence.

Domestic Violence is more prominent in tv shows now as well because, like rape, it's no longer something that is seen as a shameful thing that should just be brushed under the carpet and moved on.

I may destroy you?

I think the issue is more that at times it's used as a plot device to further some other characters story or is gratuitous and then doesnt follow up with the realistic aftermath of rape.

That being said, I really appreciate those tv/films that handle the subject fully and well.

Yes I totally agree OP. It’s definitely gratuitous most of the time which says a lot about society. Often I think it’s just a form of acceptable porn, thinly disguised as “drama.”

Not wanting every other TV plot line to be about rape is hardly sweeping the issue under the carpet.

I can’t remember the last time I watched something with a rape storyline if I’m honest. Perhaps diversify what you’re watching if it all seems to be from similar programmes.

Most TV shows are filth and boring and for dimwits
People watch crap like EastEnders, love island
Sensationalising sexual assault is considered ground breaking for these types of audiences

YANBU. The trope of the edgy strong yet vulnerable complex female character made so by rape is annoying. Women always have to be so irritatingly perfect or sinned against.

Why can’t women just be complex and interesting because they are?

Outlander has done this! Three important characters have been raped. Then much of the seasons have involved each character dealing with that. I was disgusted by the last episode I wont be watching it again in future.

I'm watching outlander atm and 3 of the main characters end up being raped. It's a bit much tbh

Totally agree OP. It's not dealing with the reality of rape. There's a fetishisation of it in a way through the gratuitous nature of it.

Look at the Relationships boards on mumsnet, which I'd say is a pretty fair representation of women being raped. Compare that to any of the programmes with rape in. One is based on reality. The other is often like a script used on pro hub, only with enough financing behind to be "better" written, alongside better sets, costumes, lighting, filming and editing.

But just like porn videos, the brain gets used to them, so yo grab attention the bar has to be luges further and further. Rape isn't in there as true study of what it is, it's there to grab attention.

I'd be interested to know how many man on man rape scenes there are vs man on woman in total or year, how long each scene lasts and how gratuitous each are respectively. If the ratio works out as equivalent to the number of men raped per year, I'd be shocked. As such, it's fair to say the common rape scenes are designed to attract male viewers.

I was hoping they'd change the plotline of Outlander from the books for Claire. I found that last episode really hard.

Also find this really really frustrating OP. Glad I'm not the only one.

YANBU, OP. I'd say I ask DH to turn that sort of stuff off about once a week. It's grim.

Several people have expressed this better than I did. It's not just the frequency (@lyralalala I totally take your point that the reality is rape is an everyday occurrence), it's the mix of rape being fetishised and the lazy use of it as a plot device.

You are right OP.

I got to a point at one time, where I just couldn't watch telly or netflix, because it seemed every should that was being lauded as fantastic, was about women being raped or murdered, or both.

It was at time when it seemed to also be prominent in the news. So really life, as well on the telly.

I can't seem to put it into words, but even though these shows are shocking, it kind of 'normalises' this porn/rape culture.

*show - not should

I think they've got to the point where rape is entertainment.

Yes, of course it happened, of course it always will happen - but it's now 'let's sit down and binge watch women being brutalised whilst we eat pizza and then talk about how great the show is and her tits looked amazing'.

YANBU. I have two other issues around this.

Slight variation, violence against women being the motivation/justification for actions for a male character. Essentially what happened to the women is minimised as the plot becomes about the males characters reaction to it. I.e. avenging murdered wives.

Characters post rape seem to act in very similar ways. Get home, scrub themselves clean, cry sat in the shower, wear baggy clothes, no make-up, etc. I didn't do/feel how its often portrayed and at some points felt wrong for not feeling how I thought I should. Every person will act differently but there seems to be rules about how a raped person should act and if you don't then you're questioned on it. The CPS wouldn't prosecute basically because they couldn't sell the narrative that the jury would expect. I think rape in tv and film has an influence on this.

Agree completely, OP.

I refuse to watch anything that depicts sexual violence against women, it sickens me. Unfortunately my tv options are becoming limited. I was watching a tv show with dh, about vikings i think, and it showed a man viciously raping a nun. I know this stuff happens, i know it was people acting, but i just can't watch it. I tried googling just now to try and find out what the show was and up popped 'free viking nun raped porn'. What a sick fucking world we live in.

Agree completely, it's tedious that it's shown as entertainment. It's at best lazy plot device and quite frankly I do not class seeing a woman raped as entertainment or how/why it needs to be shown. You do not need to see the act to portray the fear or the aftermath.
Like others My viewing has become so limited. I use the parents guide on IDMB to check films now. It's scary how normalized it's become.

violence against women being the motivation/justification for actions for a male character. Essentially what happened to the women is minimised as the plot becomes about the males characters reaction to it

Downton Abbey. Mr Bates' pathetic, selfish, bullying and nasty attitude towards Anna was scripted as honourable. It was all about his quest for vengeance, bullying and quietly terrorising, interrogating, her to tell him everything. The plot had zero consideration for her feelings other than as that affected him. It was actually disgusting.

However the staff forced young Daisy into romantic and social relationships with controlling men she wasn't interested in and this was scripted as "romantic" so...yeah.

The entertainment industry has totally normalised control of and violence towards women.

I think its part of the women in refrigerators trope

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Refrigerators

YANBU that it seems often to be gratuitous.