Deconstructing Gender-Based Violence from Kenyan Soap Narratives

Unveiling the Nexus between Syndemics, Women’s Health, and Transformative Change

Abstract

This research aimed to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the interplay between media narratives, women’s health issues, and gender dynamics through an analysis of two selected soap operas. The study reveals alarming trends within the narratives, indicating that soaps mirror social stereotypes and beliefs regarding gender and culture. These include trivialization and normalization of Gender Based Violence (GBV), victimization, objectification, gender imbalance, and perpetuation of harmful gender stereotypes. Data analysis demonstrates a stark contrast in gender roles, with men portrayed as dominant, women as subordinate, and victims as helpless, revealing stratifiers in GBV depictions. The exclusion of various faces of GBV such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the erasure or underrepresentation of marginalized groups from the narratives denotes the omission of an intersectionality lens to the portrayals. Moreover, the socioeconomic disparity between female actresses and male actors is evident, reinforcing gender inequalities offscreen and indicating syndemics influencing GBV. These findings underscore the significant impact of soap narratives in entrenching harmful gender stereotypes and normalizing violence, indicating a syndemics perspective in GBV construction. The portrayal of GBV in a trivialized manner perpetuates a culture of violence, which has severe implications for women’s well-being and empowerment. This article raises critical concerns regarding the potential negative consequences of media portrayals on societal attitudes and the perpetuation of violence which impacts women’s health. It highlights the urgent need for responsible and empowering media representations to challenge marginalization and harmful gender norms towards transformative change. By addressing the complexities within soap narratives, the study aims to pave the way for a more equitable and empowering media landscape that uses a syndemic perspective in pursuit of social change.