Symbolic Violence Manifestation Behind Victim Blaming Practices

This study intends to uncover the practice of victim blaming carried out by institutions against victims of sexual harassment at the Commuter Line. This qualitative research was conducted using critical discourse analysis on detikNews online media coverage on January 4, 2018, entitled “Pelaku Pelecehan Seksual di KRL Ditangkap, Korban Diminta Melapor.” The study then conducted an analysis using the four-step method introduced by Fairclough and revealed detikNews articles using the PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia’s (PT KCI) perspective as a doxa. The practice of victim blaming by PT KCI appeared implicitly and was hardly noticed by readers. The victim was accused to be the reason for the incomplete legal process of sexual harassment cases. This gap was then used by PT KCI to increase its image by displaying that the institution managed to arrest the perpetrators. This action violated the victim’s protection rights because the institution could increase its image in many other ways. This manifestation of symbolic violence operates through language, representation, and symbols. This symbolic violence then positioned women into groups that were silenced by patriarchal culture. This study verified that victim blaming practices could be performed by anyone, including individuals and institutions. Notably, institutions supported by mass media had a great influence on information dissemination. Attempts to open public space for women through speech, discussion, and writing, are necessary to stop victim blaming practices and achieve reflective awareness as heterodoxa.