The treatment of Virginia Giuffre in the media underlines the great consequences of men's accusing abuse

Virginia Giuffre, one of the best -known accusers of the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, died at the age of 41. Her family said she had died through suicide on her farm in Australia.

Giuffre had accused Prince Andrew for sexually attacking her as a teenager. She brought a case for sexual assault against him, which Andrew finally removed for an unauthorized amount of a little. He denied all claims against him. But the accusations and his friendship with Epstein ultimately led to Andrew's withdrawal from public life.

Giuffre's story is a moving memory of the great consequences for everyone who talks about their abuse, especially someone who speaks against the powerful.

Giuffre was not only a victim of Epstein's crime, it was also the focus of brutal boulevard media reporting in Great Britain and all over the world. This does not mean that there were no moments of great reporting. But these were often overshadowed by being sensational and stereotyped and who regularly accompanies those who bring allegations of sexual abuse.

A search for Virginia Giuffre in the Factiva news database provides over 25,000 results. It is difficult to imagine to pay so much attention, positive or negative.

The reporting of news was a mixture of support and examination, which began almost 15 years ago and then tightened in the past six years when Epstein was arrested. He died in prison and waited for the legal proceedings for sex trade.

The first wave of reporting about Giuffre is back to the beginning of 2011. Most of the reports contained one-word quotes from Giuffre, but nothing that they humant for readers.

The times and other publications reported on Andrew's friendly connection to Epstein – although there was no direct accusation against him at that time.

There was an airy tone that concentrated on catchy words between the prince and the “Perverser” pstein. Epstein was already a registered sex offender in 2008, but there was hardly his terrible actions that led him to this title.

There were hardly any worries about Giuffre or other survivors. They were a radiant food. There was little empathy for what they experienced and the risks they had publicly taken. The main focus was on the obvious embarrassment of Andrew's friendship with Epstein, who finally led to the prince back from his role of the trade officer.

The important men and their roles were the news angles. Giuffre was just a supportive character.

The second wave of reporting on Giuffre occurred in 2019 when Epstein was arrested for accusations of sex trade for children. It was mentioned in court documents and found as a victim of Epstein in the media, but was once again overshadowed by Epstein's connections to other mighty men such as Donald Trump or Bill Clinton (both denial of Epstein's crimes).

None of this should be imply that those who are connected to Epstein should not be named and examined. But as my research shows when powerful men are accused, the reporting is largely about these mighty men and the money or career concentration for them. The survivors and the abuse and the trauma they experience are a footnote.

Studies show that the way in which journalists rate the novelty of a story often appreciates power structures, perspectives and the famous status. So when someone like Giuffre comes forward, their history and their voice become secondary to the more powerful accused.

Change headlines

A shift in reporting met in 2020 when Giuffre and others were the focus of a Netflix documenter on Epstein's crimes. Watch the detailed reports of so many humanized Giuffre and others while showing the enormous weight that takes up the survivor when you contact. Her stories triggered sensitive reactions from spectators.

The reporting has made some progress in the past decade due to the ## Metoo movement and the survivors. Since then, however, this has been alleviated by a counter reaction to #metoo – and problematic settings exist in the news and entertainment industries. Threats of legal measures by the accused can cause journalists to report on sexual abuse.

In February 2022, Andrew with Giuffre with a not mentioned amount with a civilian sexual assault. The reporting was more sensitive to Giuffre than a decade before – the misalignment and scandals were largely left out – but the perspectives of the survivors were still missing. Andrew was robbed by his royal and military titles at the time, but seems to stay unofficially with the royal family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9swevmjzj-s

The reporting on Giuffre's death was also compassion, especially in interviews with her family and her friends. There are demands for the responsibility of Andrew and the usual, terrible boulevard newspaper that uses the situation.

A restriction of reporting on cases of sexual abuse is that survivors often do not want to speak publicly with news media due to the enormous risks and consequences with which they are exposed. Survivors look against setbacks when they tell friends and family in their private circles because they are accused or not believed. These consequences are reinforced when survivors go public.

Several organizations have provided news organizations guidelines that can report more fairer and more precisely about sexual abuse.

Many people who experience sexual abuse never report. Giuffre did it and spoke to the media repeatedly for over a decade. While some news organizations learned how to be more sensitive, the focus was never enough on their history, life and their determination.

---

If one of the content affects you or someone you know, resources are available.

In Great Britain: Samariters are available by phone, free of charge, 116 123 or by e -mail at jo@samaritans.org. You can also find more resources here.

Contact the rape crisis England & Wales online or by phone at 0808 500 2222.

If you are in crisis in the United States, please call the suicide and crisis rescue line at 988, or contact the crisis text line by talking to 741741.