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Article published In: Language, Culture and Society
Vol. 6:2 (2024) ► pp.190–222

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It’s your fault

A critical discourse analysis of narratives surrounding gender-based violence in a Russian talk show

ORCiD logo with link | Suleyman Demirel University
Published online: 17 February 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/lcs.24028.kam
Abstract
While the problem still remains decriminalised in Russia, this study explores domestic violence victims’ storytelling in four episodes of the popular Russian talk show Pust’ Govoryat, which aired from 2017 to 2020. By drawing upon De Fina, A. (2021). Doing narrative analysis from a narratives as practices perspective. Narrative Inquiry, 31 (1), 49–71. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar narratives-as-practice approach and van Leeuwen, T. (2008). Discourse and practice: New tools for critical discourse analysis. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar CDA theory, I critically examine storytelling as a discourse practice itself and situate constructed identities, norms, and values in wider dominant discourses of country’s social and political life. Corpus-assisted discourse analysis (Baker, P. (2012). Acceptable bias? Using corpus linguistics methods with critical discourse analysis. Critical Discourse Studies, 9(3), 247–256. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) helps to analyse the representation of abusers and victims. Qualitative and quantitative analyses suggest that the show, broadcast on the main state-funded federal channel, propagates a family ideology that supports victim-blaming, normalises and depolitisises domestic violence. The research indicates that such an anti-feminist, misogynist, and patriarchal discourse becomes an integral part of the state’s anti-Western and anti-liberal ideology and resonates with the general increase in epistemological violence in today’s Russia.
Article outline
  • 1.Gender-based violence in Russia
  • 2.Media representations of the gender-based violence
  • 3.Data: Pust’ Govoriat talk show
  • 4.Theoretical and methodological framework
  • 5.Results: Analysis of victims’ narratives
    • 5.1It is your fault: Don’t justify yourself with a glass of wine
    • 5.2Quantitative analysis: Gender-based violence in PG show
      • 5.2.1Violence representation in PG corpus
      • 5.2.2Representation of abusers
      • 5.2.3Representation of victims
  • 6.Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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