TV Shows That Got Sexual Assault Right For Survivors | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Swoon

5 TV Shows That Got Sexual Assault Right For Survivors

The correct on-screen portrayal. Now what we need is real-life action.

610
5 TV Shows That Got Sexual Assault Right For Survivors

Sexual assault in movies and TV can often be portrayed in a problematically, depicting the assault and aftermath in a way that's unrealistic and even promotes victim-blaming. On-screen sexual assault is often used as a mechanism to drive a plot forward, but in the process, hurts the cause off-screen and delays progress in the real world. However, there is television that does a good job in depicting sexual assault, encouraging conversation and putting victims in the right light.

Here are the best 5 TV shows that portray sexual assault correctly:

1. Orange Is The New Black

Pennsatucky is raped by one of the prison guards, who she had previously grown to trust. The show demonstrates Pennsatucky's feelings of sadness and confusion that someone she considered a friend could do that to her. She struggles to understand how this assault could have happened to her, and how someone that she considered to be a friend could have done this to her. This reflects the aftermath of sexual assault for a lot of victims in the real world.

2. Law and Order: SVU

"Law and Order: SVU" brought all different types of sexual assault and domestic violence to the forefront of television. Throughout the seasons, they discuss issues from consent to child abuse, and for the most part, the show sought to empower the victims and show viewers the reality of the situation of sexual assault in our world, even in cases that were not necessarily cut and dry.

3. Felicity

This late 90s/early 2000s show was not dated in the way it represents sexual assault in some episodes. It deals with the issue of consent in a situation that began as consensual and switched to assault. It also shows how victims doubt themselves and their experiences, blame themselves for what happened, and hesitate to report these crimes.

4. Outlander

The Season 1 finale of "Outlander" shows the graphic sexual assault of Jamie Fraser. The audience not only witnesses the act in detail from the perspective of the victim, but we also see the aftermath and journey Jamie takes after the rape, which is thought to be respectful and truthful to the reality of a lot of sexual assault victims.

5. Switched At Birth

In Season 4, the show shows sexual assault when Bay blacks out after a party and realizes that Tank took advantage of her sexually. She ultimately reports it to her school and the authority. The show does a good job in showing that consent requires a clear and sober "yes" through the story arc and the voices of the characters, specifically Bay's mother. But it also shows a victim's self doubt, especially when alcohol is involved. The show's cast and crew even engaged in an online conversation about sexual assault, beyond the lives of the on-screen characters.

From Your Site Articles
Report this Content
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

188160
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

13631
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456905
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26052
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments