Propaganda isn’t just for politics or war; it’s a powerful tool that gets used to control narratives about abuse survivors, shape public perception, a
Propaganda isn’t just for politics or war; it’s a powerful tool that gets used to control narratives about abuse survivors, shape public perception, and protect perpetrators or systems. Here’s how it shows up:
🔄 1. Shifting Blame to the Survivor
Tactic: Portraying the Survivor as unstable, vengeful, “angry,” or “bitter.”
Effect: The public begins to see the Survivor as the problem instead of the abuser.
Example: “Why did she stay?” or “She’s just trying to ruin his reputation.”
🗣️ 2. Minimizing the Abuse
Tactic: Using language like “incident,” “dispute,” or “relationship troubles” instead of calling it assault, rape, or violence.
Effect: It softens the seriousness of the crime and makes it easier to excuse.
🎭 3. Elevating the Abuser’s Image
Tactic: Highlighting their career, achievements, or “good deeds” to overshadow the abuse.
Effect: People think, “He’s such a good man; she must be lying or exaggerating.”
📉 4. Creating False Equivalence
Tactic: Framing abuse as a “mutual conflict” instead of a power imbalance.
Effect: Victims appear complicit; abusers appear less responsible.
🧠 5. Rewriting the Survivor’s History
Tactic: Digging up old posts, relationships, clothing choices, or past mistakes to discredit them.
Effect: People focus on the Survivor’s past instead of the abuser’s actions (a classic smear campaign).
📺 6. Saturating Media with a Counter-Narrative
Tactic: Using PR, friendly journalists, or influencers to push a story that “corrects” or undermines the survivor’s account.
Effect: Confusion. People don’t know what to believe, so they default to doubting the victim.
🪞 7. Weaponizing Group Identity
Tactic: Saying the Survivor is harming the “cause,” the “family,” the “team,” or “the community” by speaking out.
Effect: Silences victims by making them feel like traitors to their own group.
💬 8. Gaslighting at Scale
Tactic: Repeating messages like “this is rare,” “it wasn’t that bad,” or “you’re imagining bias” through media, schools, or workplaces.
Effect: Makes Survivors doubt their own reality.
🧩 9. Focusing on the “Perfect Victim” Myth
Tactic: Pitting Survivors against each other (“she was believable, but you’re not”).
Effect: Many victims self-silence because they know they won’t be seen as “perfect.”
🌊 10. Creating Fatigue Around the Issue
Tactic: “We’re tired of hearing about this.” “It’s over.” “Move on.”
Effect: The public loses empathy, and Survivors become isolated.
✨ The Counter to Propaganda: Survivor-Led Narratives
Survivors telling their own stories in their own language.
Clear, consistent education for the public about abuse dynamics.
Building independent platforms so survivors aren’t at the mercy of hostile media.