Coverage of domestic violence issues on the pages of “Adyrna” portal

Abstract

The article aims to investigate how the problem of domestic violence in Kazakhstan is covered in the media. In particular, the analysis of the headlines of articles about domestic violence published on the Adyrna national media portal between 2020 and 2024 aims to read from a feminist perspective. Domestic violence is a problem that causes physical, psychological or economic harm to women. The way the media portrays this issue plays a crucial role. This is because the media can directly influence public perception, the attitude of lawmakers and social interventions. This article is important in showing how media analysis can be used for feminism and how discourse analysis can be effective in analyzing gender-related media content. The practical significance of the study is that it provides ideas for media workers, journalists and women’s rights advocates on how to prepare gender-related articles. Critical discourse analysis was chosen as the methodology of the article. This method analyzed the ideological orientations, power relations and social norms underlying the article titles. Feminist theory formed the theoretical basis of this article. According to the findings of the article, the number of articles on domestic violence in Adyrna has increased over the years. However, it was revealed that most of the content of the Adyrna news portal carries a discourse that presents the victim in a passive way, hides the name of the perpetrator, or focuses on the individual consequences of violence rather than its social causes. This ignores the causes of domestic violence and reproduces patriarchal norms.