Unveiling Biases in Indonesia’s Online Media: Analyzing Sexual Violence Reporting in the Modern Era Through a Feminist Lens

This paper reveals the imbalance of Indonesia’s online media in reporting sexual violence. Content analysis showed a high number of violent events reported (119 news reports over three months), a tendency to favor authorities’ perspectives over victims/perpetrators, and motives oriented towards exploitation and warnings. Critical discourse analysis further unveiled subtle discursive strategies perpetuating systemic gender oppression: naturalized masculine presuppositions framing violence as deviations from a male norm; gendered nomination strategies depersonalizing women through roles like “girl”/”mother”; deflecting agency away from victims by prioritizing institutional voices; and intersectional marginalization compounding gender-based subjugations through intersections with class/ethnicity/geography. These findings significantly demonstrate continuing gender biases and patriarchal ideologies in sexual violence reporting across five major online media platforms in post-democratization Indonesia, despite their national reach and influence. The multi-modal analysis integrating content and discourse techniques provides empirical validation for feminist theoretical critiques while offering nuanced understandings to catalyze more equitable and victim-centered journalistic practices.