Imagine a hand tightening around your throat, cutting off your air, the pressure building with each desperate breath. Look into the eyes of the person you trust most as they hold your life in their grip. This isn't a scene from a thriller; it's the terrifying reality of strangulation, a shockingly common act of control and violence.
The memory of such an attack doesn’t simply fade. It becomes etched into the very core of a survivor’s being, a constant, haunting reminder of a moment where death felt inevitable. Yet, this brutal reality is often shockingly misrepresented – or even romanticized – in the media we consume.
Films like *Lady Chatterley’s Lover* and *365 Days* portray strangulation as a playful, even erotic act. These depictions are not only dangerously inaccurate, but they actively minimize the severe, often life-altering, health risks involved. The subtle message conveyed is that this is a harmless act, a far cry from the truth.
Strangulation isn’t always a violent outburst. It frequently exists in the insidious space between affection and abuse, perpetrated by someone known and trusted. It’s the ultimate assertion of power – a demonstration of complete control over another person’s life, their very breath.
The statistics are stark and sobering. A person can lose consciousness in as little as seven to ten seconds, and the damage doesn’t end there. Strangulation can cause blood clots, strokes, and long-term neurological problems. In fact, it’s now recognized as the second leading cause of stroke in young women.
Analysis of Domestic Homicide Reviews reveals a chilling pattern: two-thirds of fatal strangulations were preceded by controlling behaviors. Even more disturbing, over half of those who were ultimately killed had already experienced non-fatal strangulation. This isn’t a spontaneous act; it’s an escalation.
Since 2014, strangulation has been a factor in 550 killings of women in the UK, with an intimate partner responsible for 372 of those deaths. Despite its prevalence, reporting remains low, with only 18.9% of partner abuse cases reported to the police. The silence surrounding this violence is deafening.
Thankfully, there’s been a growing awareness of domestic abuse in popular culture. British soaps, for example, have tackled complex issues like coercive control, as seen in the groundbreaking storyline of Mo and Trevor. This portrayal helped audiences recognize abusive patterns in their own lives and seek help.
More recently, shows like *Baby Reindeer* have addressed stalking, and films like *Alice, Darling* have explored coercive control. But strangulation deserves the same nuanced and realistic portrayal. One wonders how many filmmakers have actually spoken to survivors to understand the true impact of this violence.
The irony isn’t lost that intimacy coordinators are increasingly used to protect actors during simulated intimacy, ensuring a safe and respectful environment. But what about protecting the audience from misinformation? Don’t we deserve accurate depictions of violence and its consequences?
While recent changes to regulations regarding pornography are a positive step, there’s still much work to be done. TV and film have the power to educate, to challenge perceptions, and to spark crucial conversations. But this requires listening to the voices of those who have lived through this trauma.
Only by engaging with survivors can we create portrayals of strangulation that are complex, nuanced, and truly reflect the devastating reality of this often-hidden form of abuse. It’s time to move beyond sensationalism and towards a more responsible and informed representation of violence against women.
