Men and women: how do you feel about seeing sexual violence toward women (i.e. rape) portrayed in the media?

Question

I recently saw the movie "The Hills Have Eyes," which depicts violent rape and sexual assault rather vividly. It made me very uncomfortable as a woman, and for a little while afterward I didn't even want my boyfriend to touch me because I felt devalued by what I saw onscreen. It also bothered me that so many men can watch violence toward women onscreen and see it as nothing but entertainment. The movie was horrifying, but I was too angry at it to be scared by it. My anger raised a number of questions. Is sexual violence toward women a valid subject matter for any movie, and is there a right and wrong way to portray it? Does violence toward women in the media contribute to the devaluing of women in our society? Is it right for the entertainment industry to capitalize on a violent crime that is both very real and very devastating to those who experience it? Is there anything that can be done about it, and if so, what? I'd like to know how others feel about this.

Answer 1

I dislike seeing women sexually assaulted very much! It gives me a very uncomfortable feeling, to the point where I don't want to be alone. I remember when I first saw the movie "The Accused" with Jodi Foster. The premise of the movie is that she was in a bar, having fun and was violently raped by a group of boys and the trial was the focus of the movie. But it was such a horrific scene, that I remember wondering why on earth a woman, even though she's an actress and it's just a film, would be willing to be portrayed in that light. Then I realized that the point of the movie was that no means no and if you do that to a woman, you're going to jail. I have not seen "The Hils Have Eyes" but I'm thinking it's not a message to all would-be rapists. There are very few instances where the depiction of that type of violence so vivedly is necessary. I've had some bad experiences in the past and I always assumed that led to my ultra uneasy feeling, but the more people I talk to, the more I see it's a pretty normal reaction from a woman.

It's like violence against children. If I'm ever watching anything and I see the violence against a child, it's over. I no longer watch, no matter how much I wanted to see the movie. They can infer that violence happened all the want, but once the show it, I don't bother. I think you can get messages across andtell a story wihtout vivedly portraying acts of violence. However, our society as a whole has become fairly immune to portrayals of violence.

I think it's a valid subject for a movie, because it happens in our society and we need to do everything we can to bring awareness to it. But there's a right way and a wrong way. I think you can show the effects without showing the actual violence, but I'm not sure that would sell tickets. People love the shock value a violent scene provides. Look at horror movies, they've gotten more and more gorry because people expect that and the more desensitized they get to seeing violence, the more they need to see to be able to react to it.

I think if they are not trying to send an important message, and it's not integral to the movie, it should not be portrayed. Assume it, infer it, refer to it, show some blurry, ambiguous scenes, but not in your face with it.

The only thing that can be done is to not see those movies, but for every person that refuses to see it, there's a multitude who will.

It angers me to see it and to feel so helpless, but I just avoid those movies at all costs.

Answer 2

In my personal opinion, there is definitely a right and wrong way to portray sexual violence toward women in movies, but I feel it is an issue that should be addressed more in film, if done properly. Too many films seem to glorify rape and violence toward women, with the exception of a few where those women "get even". To me, movies that depict such things should help to bring to light this issue that is often ignored or even glorified. If a film depicting rape or sexual assault helps to prevent someone from getting themselves into a similar situation, then I say that it is an important and valid subject matter.

Answer 3

Honestly, to me, it is just a movie. I know my boyfriend would never do something like that. I know he or my friends aren't little kids who would think that rape in a movie or violence is cool in any means. I know they respect women, and when they are watching a movie, it is simply just a movie. Real stuff like that happens everyday, in real lives of other people, if you are disturbed by that sort of thing, I would advise you not to watch those types of movies. If you are unprepared to take it in as just a movie, then this isn't the type of movie that you should be watching. I am not judging I am simply advising. I will say, this however, when I first watched the hills have eyes, I was in terrible shock that why on earth would anyone make a movie like this, they would have to be sick and twisted...(and weird enough I didnt form this thought until I watched the dad part, not the rape scene) then while everything was happening I had to tell myself it is just a movie, and they probably had outakes of the monsters laughing and the girl laughing..etc... I'm not saying that I enjoy watching violence to women, what I am saying is simply that I know that it is purely a film. And you can't really do anything about it, you can protest but it really isn't going to change, because you think just by taking out the violence on films and tv will simply stop the violence in real life? No. In a perfect world maybe... but this is reality, reality is not perfect. The only thing I can say to people who disagree with violence toward women in a film, or violence in general-- lets not be sexist now--is not to watch those types of films in the first place. Try to think out of the box

Answer 4

I don't like it, I am very uncomfortable watching it. I do not see why the television (lifetime!!!!) and movies have to show scenes where women are attacked, sexually, physically, with weapons, etc. etc.

THAT to me is NOT entertainment. Unfortunately, aparently, a LOT of women like to watch this, because it is on tv (lifetime!!!) almost every night and scary-movies (mostly women watch) have a flood of these scenes.

PS The worse violent movie I have ever seen was "grizzley." Made many, many years ago, but I found it to be absolutely horrifying! Not entertainment. My wife and I left the theater absolutely numb.

Answer 5

first of all that movie was not scary or horrifying, it was just disturbing i say no entertainment value at all in the movie, the rape seen was a bit much and thankfully was not any more graphic then it was, violence will always be shown in the media and in movies as a form of entertainment but what was portrayed in that movie went a little to far

Answer 6

I think that you are absolutely right, the seems its OK the show sexual violence towards women when it comes to "entertainment" but you never see a woman rape a man on screen, really. I think that its absurd, outrageous, and degrading. I makes me so mad I cant see straight, I wont watch those parts and I get offended if my husband does, which he usually doesnt, he is totally against all that stuff also.

Answer 7

I feel that sex in the media - period - is pointless. Even more so the violence that you speak of. To me, any type of media that depicts any form of sexuality could not be entertainment for anyone other than pervs, rapists, and molesters. And yes, I feel that by being able to freely view such content, those mentioned are more likely to become motivated to find their next victims.

Answer 8

Movies like "The Hills Have Eyes" just don't interest me for reasons like this. I think that the media is causing people to lose sight of the extreme nature of rape. People SHOULD be disgusted at the idea.

Answer 9

IT feels BAD it discourages you and especially about your surroundings and how you feel about man but the plus side it makes you more aware about your surrundings and guys you met though, it teaches you a lesson even though you haven't experienced yet but helps prevents it.... the sad part as a little girl imagine your friend being raped your her only friend she can trust she tells you the pain,sorrow,and uncomforble it is for her to be around boys ,sometimes it might hurt her emotionally and physically throughout her and your life.you probaly wondering what ...nothing like that happen to me it also gets you wondering about ''What if that happen to me how would I prevent it''???There are some services that are probaly located near your neighborhood for them and for you about how you feel about it and to protect tourself lrom being raped or melestation.

Answer 10

They will only realize when such incidents directly affect them. Till then they just dont realize and take it as a show business