As a 16 year old, in her last two years of high school, I’ve experienced my fair share of gossip and drama. I also understand that in high school there’s always that one person, boy or girl, who finds out some gossip and spreads it around, however, always changes the information slightly or leaves bits of information (which may actually be essential to the story itself) out. Usually it’s to make the story more appealing or just because they prefer to be annoying and not tell you the full version.
As a 16 year old, who is an active participant in social media, I’ve witnessed my fair share of media manipulation. In the media there’s obviously news companies that gather information on current events and distribute it to their readers. However, there’s always that one news company (ehem Fox News) that gathers some information and, before distributing, they alter the information or leave bits of information (which may be essential to the story itself) out. This may be because they prefer their own version of the story or because they want to be annoying and belittle certain types of people.
If you’re questioning those last two paragraphs, I’ll just straight out tell you that I am, in fact, comparing Fox News to a whiny high schooler. Off the topic of high schoolers, however, I will be focusing on just one of the many issues that Fox News displays-- gender inequality. On January 31st, 2015, members of the University of Virginia were banned from attending frat parties and Dartmouth College banned hard liquor on campus to reduce sexual assault.
Rape has always been a very controversial topic, worldwide; whose fault is it? Is it neither the victim or the rapist’s fault? Is it both of their faults? Fox News had a very interesting (some might say narrow-minded, some might even go as far as uneducated) opinion on the matter. Not only does Stacey Dash say it’s the victims’ fault, but there is also no mention, whatsoever, on what role the rapist has in this whole situation. She starts to make a good point when she says that they blame the alcohol instead of the person, which is a good build up to an argument. Like, yes! Fox News is finally making a good point! Don’t blame the alcohol! Blame the person! The rapist! However, that whole argument comes tumbling down when the person she actually means is the one who “over-drinks”.
Now it’s not like these people on Fox News, who are downgrading these female victims, are men with massive egos, trying to prove their masculinity or guys trying to “back up their bros”. Instead they’re, well, just females themselves. So that leaves us with one question: why are these women belittling other women for an issue that they’re clearly (well to most people, clearly) not at fault for. The reason behind this is unexplainable and can’t even be thought of, and whatever it is it’s probably unjustifiable. However, using their media manipulation they will be able to convince others of their opinions.
There are some conventions of this article (and many others on Fox News) that conform to the idea of media manipulation. Fox News leaves information out that they understand won’t be beneficial to their argument and their scheme on trying to get their audience to view things “their way”. Did anyone else realize that there was no mention, whatsoever, of the rapist being at fault? I mean, I know I already mentioned it earlier, but that’s how fascinated (not in a good way) I am about it. I mean is Fox News really saying that getting a little drunk is worse than sexually assaulting someone? And that the person who should take all of the fault is the one that “drank a little too much”. Meanwhile, the abuser gets no trouble. Yes, drinking too much has its own disadvantages, but that’s on a whole other topic on safe consumption of alcohol. On the topic of rape and sexual assault, however, the victim “drinking too much” should be disregarded because that, in no way, gives anyone the right to your body.
Now there may not have been any mention of the rapist being at fault, here, however, that doesn’t mean there was no mention of men at all. In fact, Fox News, didn’t just mention men, they mentioned the “pity” they felt for men, having to walk in and immediately deal with people suspecting them of rape. Oh, how horrible, men are being depicted as suspects of rape? Poor them! People think you could possibly be a rapist? Aw, how do you deal with such a difficult life? Your strength as admirable! What about the girls that people know actually experienced rape? Fox News, where’s your pity for them? What’s that? It’s their own fault?! But how could it be their fault? Oh, they drank too much! Okay, but how does that result in sexual assault? Yeah, you left that part out, Fox. And in my opinion, these girls’ strength to not punch Fox News in the face is way more admirable than what these guys have to go through.
Why is this information important? Well media manipulation isn’t only displayed in Fox News, believe it or not. It’s all over social media and most people are bystanders to this issue or they just don’t realize what these forms of media, such as Fox News, are trying to do. Fox News is pretty well-known for this kind of thing so maybe there aren’t that many bystanders when it comes to this specific issue, but this, like I said before, isn’t the only form of media manipulation. We see it everywhere: government campaigns, other news programs, etc. It’s important that we don’t let Fox News’ version of events get to us. For example, rape is not the victim’s fault, it’s the rapist’s fault. Don’t let anyone, especially Fox News, tell you otherwise.
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