My cookie preferencesRecently, Italy officially recognized femicide as a distinct criminal offense, seeking to enshrine it in law with its own classification and penalties. In the future, killing a woman because she is a woman will be punishable by life imprisonment. While this legal step marks important progress, it is not enough to address the deeper, systemic issue of violence against women. In Italy, a woman is killed every 72 hours, most often by her partner or ex-partner. This alarming reality highlights the urgent need for more than just legal reforms. True change requires a cultural shift in how society understands gender relations, violence, and prevention. It also demands a new awareness of the role media plays, both in shaping and reflecting public discourse.
This research project explores how femicide is portrayed in local media in South Tyrol, examining both Italian- and German-language coverage. We aim to identify the narratives, patterns, and framing strategies used in media reporting, and ask whether these representations, intentionally or not, contribute to a culture that blames victims or engages in perpetrator-victim reversal. A central question is whether media narratives reflect, reinforce or challenge patriarchal views, subtly influencing how gender-based violence is perceived.
Local media in South Tyrol are especially relevant, as they operate within the region’s unique cultural and linguistic landscape. How femicide is discussed in these outlets offers crucial insight into how such violence is normalized, challenged, or ignored in public discourse. With this project, we seek to promote critical reflection on media responsibility, raise awareness about gendered violence, and support more ethical and informed reporting practices.
