All artworksOften in mainstream media, sexual violence is depicted from the perspective of the harasser. Articles on sexual harassment are frequently accompanied by stock photos of a woman holding up her hands in resistance, almost as if inviting viewers to adopt the perspective of the harasser. POV: you are sexually assaulting someone. There is also a huge emphasis on resisting, it begs the question with survivors: ‘did I do enough to stop my assault? Was it my fault?’ When this is the only way sexual violence is visualised, this becomes the only truth. A unempathetic, guild-ridden truth.
Created on May 1, 2025
Tellusgången 22-24, 126 26 Hägersten, Sweden
The impact of sexual assault
Often in mainstream media, sexual violence is depicted from the perspective of the harasser. Articles on sexual harassment are frequently accompanied by stock photos of a woman holding up her hands in resistance, almost as if inviting viewers to adopt the perspective of the harasser. POV: you are sexually assaulting someone. There is also a huge emphasis on resisting, it begs the question with survivors: ‘did I do enough to stop my assault? Was it my fault?’ When this is the only way sexual violence is visualised, this becomes the only truth. A unempathetic, guild-ridden truth.
So much is wrong with these one dimensional interpretations. I think a change of perspective is necessary.
This mural is a part of that change of perspective. I want to change to way sexual violence is depicted and make work that is empathetic to survivors, without guilt, but still showing the impact of it.