In a recent segment on Morrocan state TV, a makeup artist casually demonstrated how to use foundation to cover bruises from domestic violence.
https://twitter.com/CurioGorilla/status/802496936393711616
The clip of the channel 2M show Sabahiyat shows the artist covering up a woman’s black eyes and swollen cheeks, which were purportedly drawn on with makeup. According to the Independent, she discusses heavy coverage foundations, powders, and concealers so women can go about their daily routine after being the victims of abuse.
Many across the globe are outraged with the segment, highlighting that the focus of domestic violence should not be to cover it up, trivialize it, or normalize it.
Do not cover domestic violence with makeup, condemn the aggressor! #ضرب_مها — #Morocco https://t.co/bRrpqdxmjg
— Boutaïna Azzabi Ezzaouia (@Boutaina) November 25, 2016
Maybe they should air tutorials on how to control anger and not beat up defenseless women #Women #DomesticViolence https://t.co/2weppd1ZN4
— Shiva Shahmohammadi (@shivnature) November 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/khivi/status/802893074095546368
A new low: When domestic violence is normalized on television |https://t.co/l4AmgMze19… | #IDEVAW #DomesticViolence #WomensRights #ضرب_مها .
— NewsroomNomad (@NewsroomNomad) November 27, 2016
A Change.org petition decrying Sabahiyat and channel 2M now has over 2,000 signatures. “As Moroccan women and as feminist activists in Morocco, and in the name of all Moroccan people, we denounce the message of normalization with violence against women,” it reads. “Do not cover domestic violence with makeup, condemn the aggressor!”
Eventually, channel 2M took down the video and released an apology saying the management believes the segment was “completely inappropriate” and offers its “sincerest apologies.”
According to a survey compiled by UN women in 2011, 35 percent of Moroccan women experience physical violence in their lifetimes. In the United States, that number goes up to 51 percent.
