NEWS PORTRAYALS OF WITCHCRAFT RELATED VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICAN PRINT MEDIA - Dr. Yaseen Ally

NEWS PORTRAYALS OF WITCHCRAFT RELATED VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICAN PRINT MEDIA - Dr. Yaseen Ally

 JOURNAL:

ARCHIVE FOR PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND COUNSELING - PSYCHOTHERAPHY, VOLUME 4, NUMBER 1, June, 2022

ARTICLE TITLE: 

NEWS PORTRAYALS OF WITCHCRAFT RELATED VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICAN PRINT MEDIA 

AUTHOR: 

Dr. Yaseen Ally

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

 Department of Psychology 

South Campus Summerstrand, 

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

ABSTRACTS 

Media is one of the most powerful factors influencing modern human perception and behaviour and thus, understanding the portrayal of witchcraft related violence in the media is essential. The need to understand media portrayals of witchcraft related violence becomes more apparent in the South African context where witchcraft accusations and violence against those accused of being witches is a continuing reality. In this study, it is argued that the manner of reporting witchcraft accusations may contribute to gendered violence. A feminist psychological perspective draws us towards acknowledging the role media plays in perpetuating a particular gendered relation. This allows us to locate the role media portrayals of witchcraft accusations may be having on violence against women. The analysis produced three findings: (i) types of violent consequences faced by persons accused of witchcraft; (ii) witchcraft accusations, gender-based violence and feminist psychological understanding and; (iii) witchcraft accusations, media and feminist psychological implications. The study indicates that news reports are framed in ways that focus on witchcraft, rather than violence against women and in so doing, media may be entrenching the male dominated status quo. 

KEYWORDS: Witches; Witch-Hunts; Gender, Feminist Psychological Theory; Media; Witchcraft; Gender Roles

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