In the aftermath of the mass violence in Atlanta on March 16, 2021, hearing a white American man use the words “sex addiction” and “temptation” to downplay horrific violence against marginalized Asian women struck a very specific nerve for me. Not only have law enforcement and the resulting media coverage attempted to undermine the overt racist elements to the mass violence in Atlanta, but they’re also crafting a narrative that further normalizes violence against women, and specifically against Asian women.
Without critically addressing the root cause of this violence, namely the white supremacist patriarchy, mainstream media coverage ultimately functions to perpetuate a centuries-long cycle of horrific, violent abuse.