In “Baby Reindeer” sexual violence against men is discussed – but he is indifferent to the viewer’s safety

This story contains spoilers for “Baby Reindeer” and mentions suicide in the series “13 Reasons Why.”

Your phone buzzes; It’s the group chat. “Regard Baby reindeer! Stephen King said it was one of the best things he had ever seen.” That’s certainly all you need to know.

Maybe not. Created by comedian Richard Gadd, the Netflix story is based on Gadd’s real-life experiences and delivers a narrative steeped in violence.

The show follows Donny – a fictionalized version of Gadd – as he battles a stalker, as well as the sexual violence of an alleged television writer and an attack on Donny’s romantic interest, Teri.

Netflix reveals enough to draw you in with the show’s description: “Struggling comedian and bartender Donny meets a lonely woman who claims to be a lawyer. He offers her a cup of tea on the house and she’s instantly obsessed.” Baby reindeer is exciting and captivates the viewer with its intense and disturbing themes.

Amid his recognition, Baby reindeer highlights critical issues, including sexual violence against men, and encourages some scholarly research Acknowledgment of the show.

But while the show introduces mature themes to viewers in a variety of ways, it’s far from clear that doing so prevents or mitigates secondary trauma in the audience – or that it creates a consensual relationship between viewers and producers.

Vague but tempting description

In Australia, the show is rated R18+, while Common Sense Media, an American non-profit organization that helps parents by assessing the suitability of programs for teens or children, has rated the show 16+.

For Canadian viewers, the show is rated for Mature Audience (TV-MA) due to language, nudity, sex, sexual violence and substances. However, this label barely takes into account the potential impact of its content, which can be much deeper than the short title suggests.

In Episode 3, we witness a transphobic attack on Donny’s partner Teri. Aside from the show’s rating, the viewer is given no warning, and the episode does little to reconcile the emotional turmoil it provokes, leaving the audience to struggle with the violence.

While Donny physically intervenes and stops the attack, the scene ends with Donny staring at Teri, who is sitting on the floor. The series’ portrayal of Donny’s failure to support Teri is reflected in a narrative that seems unbridled and indifferent to the viewer’s safety.

In Episode 4, Donny is sexually assaulted while unconscious and then raped. Before the episode, the viewer is given a warning: “The following episode contains depictions of sexual violence that some viewers may find disturbing.” However, the depiction is severe and callous. The episode, as well as the show’s finale, ends with a link to a crisis resource.

Possible effects on empathy

“Some bystander” warnings raise questions about our collective sensitivity to violence in the media. I fear that desensitization to violent content may indicate a broader cultural shift in the way we perceive media of this type, which could potentially impact our empathy and response to violence in the real world.

As a survivalist and violence prevention educator, I understood the characters of Donny and Gadd. However, I couldn’t get over the largely abrupt way in which the viewer observes the character’s suffering. Rarely do we see stories on screen that depict men as survivors of sexual trauma, and this portrayal left me unsettled.

This discomfort is rooted in the finding that sexual violence in entertainment media is associated with more harmful attitudes toward rape: it has been reported that men exposed to sexual violence in films were more accepting of interpersonal violence and sexual aggression and were less sympathetic to rape victims and may be less inclined to believe the perpetrators are guilty.

Repeated exposure to sexually violent media has been shown to result in emotional desensitization and lack of consideration for victims of abuse.

Sexual and gender-based violence are not simple tools for action development. Rather, they have a significant impact on audiences’ understanding and responsiveness to such issues.

Responsibility for representation

The topic of audience well-being and safety is not new territory for Netflix. In 2019, Netflix removed a controversial scene 13 reasons why about the death of a teenage girl, based on recommendations from medical experts, including the chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Read more: Language is important for suicide prevention

This decision raised questions about the ethical responsibilities that film and television producers have to their viewers. However, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against Netflix in 2022 13 reasons why by a father who claimed viewers were not properly warned about the show’s content. The ruling was based on the protection of freedom of expression and highlighted the complexity of assigning legal responsibility to media content for individual actions.

This context is relevant considering what other shows look like Baby reindeer could take responsibility for depicting traumatic content. This awareness is critical in determining how to present sensitive material without exacerbating trauma.

Vicarious trauma

I fear that unmitigated violence in film and television may be an act of vicarious trauma, exposing audiences to the negative psychological effects of violence through powerful storytelling and visual depictions. Consuming violence through social media and news can lead to symptoms similar to those experienced by people with post-traumatic stress.

In the field of sexual violence prevention and response, it is believed that caregivers who regularly hear traumatic stories from people may internalize feelings of hypervigilance, fear, distrust, and vulnerability. The focus is on “intrusive trauma re-experiencing” and its impact on caregiver well-being.

In this field, it is usually assumed that words alone have a powerful impact and can potentially trigger similar reactions in those who hear them. This highlights the need for careful handling of such stories in the media to prevent psychological harm.

Are content warnings effective?

We should rethink how content notices are used and whether they truly inform viewers or absolve creators of deeper ethical responsibilities.

Rating television content allows creators to tick a box without ensuring audiences fully understand what’s in front of them. These measures are not enough to create a consensual relationship between viewers and producers, as a lack of clarity about what lies ahead can leave viewers vulnerable to secondary trauma, especially those who have experienced similar violence.

Creators should consider the ethical implications of depicting violence and trauma, especially when based on real-life experiences. At the very least, broadcasters could understand that content warnings are an essential accessibility measure in film and television, and also consider how the framing of a narrative and the editing of scenes can partially mitigate potentially harmful depictions.

If you have experienced sexual violence or are at risk, help is available. For more information about intimate partner violence against men and boys, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada. You can also get help by contacting a provincial crisis line or going to the nearest sexual assault center.