Unequal Attention
In a country as diverse as India, where the socio-political landscape is shaped by caste, class, religion, and gender, the issue of sexual violence is deeply intertwined with these societal structures. One would expect the media to serve as a mirror reflecting the harsh realities of all segments of society. Yet, when it comes to the reportage of rape cases, a disturbing pattern emerges. There is an overwhelming focus on cases involving girls or women from so-called upper castes, while cases involving girls or women from marginalized or lower castes often remain underreported or ignored altogether. This selective attention not only reflects the biases entrenched within the media but also perpetuates the systemic oppression faced by girls or women from lower castes.
The Role of Media in Society
Before delving into specific instances and analyses, it’s essential to understand the pivotal role media plays in a democratic society. As the fourth pillar of democracy, the media is entrusted with the responsibility of informing the public, shaping opinions, and holding power structures accountable. It acts as a mirror reflecting society’s realities and serves as a catalyst for social change by bringing pressing issues to the forefront. Therefore, the selective reporting or biased portrayal of incidents can significantly influence public perception and the course of justice.
The Nirbhaya Case
One of the most widely reported and discussed rape cases in India is the 2012 Delhi gang-rape, commonly known as the Nirbhaya case. A young woman from an upper-middle-class background was brutally assaulted and raped by six men on a moving bus in Delhi. The sheer brutality of the crime shook the nation, leading to massive protests, international attention, and eventually, significant amendments to India’s rape laws.
The extensive media coverage played a crucial role in mobilizing public outrage and pushing for legal reforms. Continuous reporting, detailed narratives of the victim’s ordeal, and relentless follow-ups kept the issue alive in public consciousness until justice was delivered. While this response was necessary and commendable, it also begs the question: why doesn’t the media exhibit the same fervor and persistence when the victims belong to marginalized communities?
The Hathras Case: A Tale of Delayed Justice
In stark contrast, consider the 2020 Hathras gang-rape case. A 19-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by four upper-caste men in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. She succumbed to her injuries two weeks later. The incident was initially met with silence and apathy from both the local administration and mainstream media. It was only after significant pressure from social media and alternative news outlets that mainstream media picked up the story, albeit with less intensity compared to the Nirbhaya case.
Furthermore, the administration’s response was fraught with negligence and insensitivity. The police forcibly cremated the victim’s body at night, against Hindu traditions, without the consent of her family, giving rise to suspicion of a cover-up. Despite the grave nature of the crime and the blatant miscarriage of justice, the media’s coverage remained sporadic and lacked the sustained outrage witnessed in other cases.
Underreporting of Crimes Against Marginalized Women
Statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveal a disturbing trend of violence against girls and women from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). Despite constituting a significant portion of the population, crimes against Dalit and Adivasi girls and women often go unreported or are inadequately covered by mainstream media.
For instance, in 2016, a Dalit woman in Kerala was raped and murdered in a manner eerily similar to the Nirbhaya case. Jisha (changed name), a 30-year-old law student, was found dead with multiple injuries on her body. Despite the brutality, the case failed to garner national attention or widespread protests. The media’s coverage was limited and lacked the depth and persistence necessary to keep the issue alive in public discourse.
Similarly, numerous cases across rural India involving girls and women from marginalized communities face a similar fate. The lack of media attention not only delays justice but also perpetuates a culture of impunity among perpetrators who belong to dominant castes.
Factors Contributing to Media Bias
Several factors contribute to this biased reporting:
- Socio-Economic Status:— Victims from upper-caste or affluent backgrounds often have better access to legal resources, media platforms, and social networks that can amplify their voices. In contrast, marginalized communities lack such access, making it easier for their cases to be ignored or suppressed.
- Urban-Rural Divide:— Crimes occurring in urban centers are more likely to be reported than those in rural areas. The media’s urban-centric approach leads to neglecting incidents from remote regions where marginalized communities predominantly reside.
- Casteist Attitudes:— Deep-seated caste prejudices within media institutions influence reporting patterns. Journalists and editors, consciously or unconsciously, may downplay or ignore cases involving lower-caste victims due to inherent biases.
- Political Pressure and Influence:— In many instances, local politicians and influential figures from dominant castes exert pressure on media outlets to suppress stories that could tarnish their image or expose systemic oppression.
Consequences of Selective Reporting
The selective reporting of rape cases has far-reaching consequences:
- Delayed or Denied Justice:— Lack of media attention often leads to delayed investigations, tampering of evidence, and intimidation of victims’ families, resulting in perpetrators escaping punishment.
- Perpetuation of Caste Hierarchies:— By not highlighting atrocities against marginalized women, the media inadvertently reinforces caste hierarchies and normalizes violence against lower castes.
- Erosion of Trust:— The media’s biased approach erodes public trust in journalism and questions its credibility as an impartial watchdog.
- Inadequate Policy Responses:— Without comprehensive reporting, policymakers remain uninformed about the extent and nature of sexual violence across different sections of society, leading to inadequate or skewed policy interventions.
The Need for Inclusive and Responsible Journalism
To address this glaring disparity, media institutions must introspect and adopt more inclusive and responsible reporting practices.
- Diversifying Newsrooms:— Ensuring representation from various castes and communities within media organizations can bring diverse perspectives and reduce inherent biases.
- Sensitization Training:— Journalists should undergo regular training to sensitize them about caste issues and the importance of equitable reporting.
- Community Journalism:— Encouraging and empowering local journalists from marginalized communities can aid in bringing grassroots issues to the forefront.
- Accountability Mechanisms:— Establishing strict guidelines and accountability measures for reporting crimes against women can ensure consistent and unbiased coverage.
- Collaborations with NGOs and Activists:— Media can collaborate with non-governmental organizations and activists working in remote areas to identify and report cases that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Role of Social Media and Alternative Platforms
In recent years, social media and alternative news platforms have played a crucial role in highlighting underreported cases. Citizen journalism has emerged as a powerful tool to bring local issues to national attention. For example, the 2014 Badaun gang-rape case, where two Dalit girls were raped and hanged from a tree, gained attention primarily due to the circulation of images and reports on social media, forcing mainstream media to take notice.
These platforms can act as catalysts in bridging the reporting gap by providing marginalized communities with a voice and exposing systemic injustices. However, it’s essential to verify and corroborate information to prevent misinformation and sensationalism.
Legal and Policy Interventions
In addition to reforms within the media, there is also a need for legal and policy interventions to ensure that cases involving lower-caste women receive the attention they deserve. This could include measures such as mandatory reporting of all rape cases, regardless of the victim’s caste or class, and stricter penalties for police officers who fail to register FIRs or who engage in caste-based discrimination.
Also Read: Selective Outrage: The Role of Caste and Politics in India’s Rape Case Narratives
Furthermore, the government could establish a dedicated body to monitor media coverage of rape cases and ensure that cases involving marginalized communities are not ignored. This body could also work with media organizations to promote ethical reporting and to highlight the importance of covering all cases of sexual violence, irrespective of the victim’s social status.
The judiciary also has a role to play in addressing the caste-based biases that influence the handling of rape cases. Judges must be trained to recognize the intersectionality of caste and gender and to ensure that victims from marginalized communities receive fair treatment. Special fast-track courts for cases involving lower-caste victims could be established to expedite justice and to send a strong message that caste-based violence will not be tolerated.
The selective reporting of rape cases based on caste not only undermines the principles of journalism but also perpetuates social injustices. Media, as a powerful instrument of change, must transcend societal prejudices and fulfill its duty of impartial reporting. By giving equal attention to all victims irrespective of their caste or social standing, the media can contribute significantly to creating a more just and equitable society.
The fight against sexual violence is not just about individual cases but also about challenging and dismantling the structures that enable such atrocities. Comprehensive and unbiased reporting is the first step towards acknowledging the pervasive nature of the problem and mobilizing collective action for change. It’s time for the Indian mainstream media to introspect and realign its priorities to truly serve as the voice of all sections of society.