Abstract

The #metoo movement established the disclosure of sexual violence via social media as
mainstream and offered participants space to share experiences, receive support and a sense of community. As a response, we explore the use of podcasting as a conduit to describe embodied experiences and how non-visual media can provide a safe environment to reveal deeply personal experiences.

We use the podcast The Heart (miniseries ‘No’) as a case study to highlight patriarchal power and sexual violence myths. The result is profoundly discomforting but also emancipatory – talking about sexual violence can constitute a revolutionary act given the stigma and victim blaming prevalent in Western society. The Heart makes private, intimate experiences public and centres female perspectives, highlighting disparate, gendered perceptions. As #metoo underscored the universality of women’s experiences of male harassment, we argue that The Heart is an example of ‘quiet activism’ and public scholarship that challenges patriarchal assumptions.