Maybe She Was Asking to be Run Over: or the Pedestrian Victim-Blaming in the British and Russian Media and the Underlying Issues of This Narrative

In contemporary urban environments, the dominance of automobiles has not only influenced physical infrastructure but also societal perceptions and media narratives regarding road usage and safety. This thesis investigates pedestrian victim-blaming in British and Russian media, examining its implications for urban safety and the concept of the right to the city. It aims to uncover systemic biases that favor drivers and marginalize pedestrians by analyzing media narratives and their impact on public perception and policy. The 20th century witnessed a significant rise in car ownership, altering city designs to prioritize vehicles over pedestrian spaces. This shift fostered attitudes equating car ownership with personal freedom, leading to urban environments that often neglect pedestrian safety and accessibility. Pedestrian victim-blaming is the tendency to hold pedestrians at fault for traffic accidents, absolving drivers and overlooking systemic urban planning issues. This phenomenon...Show moreIn contemporary urban environments, the dominance of automobiles has not only influenced physical infrastructure but also societal perceptions and media narratives regarding road usage and safety. This thesis investigates pedestrian victim-blaming in British and Russian media, examining its implications for urban safety and the concept of the right to the city. It aims to uncover systemic biases that favor drivers and marginalize pedestrians by analyzing media narratives and their impact on public perception and policy. The 20th century witnessed a significant rise in car ownership, altering city designs to prioritize vehicles over pedestrian spaces. This shift fostered attitudes equating car ownership with personal freedom, leading to urban environments that often neglect pedestrian safety and accessibility. Pedestrian victim-blaming is the tendency to hold pedestrians at fault for traffic accidents, absolving drivers and overlooking systemic urban planning issues. This phenomenon is pervasive in media reporting, public discourse, and legal frameworks, with narratives often attributing accidents to pedestrian behaviors like jaywalking or distraction. Such blame-shifting not only affects public perception but also influences policy decisions, hindering efforts to enhance pedestrian safety. Media coverage plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of traffic incidents, with studies indicating that the framing of accidents can significantly influence perceived blame. Headlines and articles frequently emphasize pedestrian behavior while downplaying driver actions and systemic issues like poor road design. A key concept related to pedestrian victim-blaming is "windshield bias," where media and society predominantly view traffic incidents from the driver's perspective. This bias is reflected in language that sympathizes with drivers and obscures their responsibility. Additionally, the right to the city, which advocates for equitable urban access for all inhabitants, is compromised when policies prioritize vehicular traffic over pedestrian needs. This thesis contributes to the discourse on urban safety and equity by addressing the systemic biases favoring drivers and marginalizing pedestrians. It advocates for a more inclusive approach to urban planning and policy, aiming to foster safer, more equitable urban environments.Show less

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Maybe She Was Asking to be Run Over: or the Pedestrian Victim-Blaming in the British and Russian Media and the Underlying Issues of This Narrative