Domestic abuse is a serious issue–an issue that frankly, still isn't addressed enough. So when a Moroccan TV show decided to air a segment on how to use makeup to cover up domestic violence bruises, the internet lost their shit. The daytime program Sabahiyat brought on a makeup artist to help cover and camouflage "traces of violence" on a woman who was made to look like she had been bruised all around her eyes along with swollen cheekbones. Seriously, WTF were they thinking?
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Sabahiyat brought on makeup artist Lilia Mouline to show women how they can hide domestic violence bruises with the help of makeup. "We hope these beauty tips will help you carry on with your daily life," Mouline said. You can see the artist use everything from loose powder to yellow-based foundation so that the purple bruises and red punch marks don't show. It's hard to stomach. What's worse is that the segment was aired two days before the International Day for the Elimination Violence.
Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=582&v=9bak1AP8EV8
Shortly after the clip aired, viewers took to Facebook and Twitter to call out the station for their warped approach towards domestic violence. There was even a Change.org petition created demanding "severe sanctions against" the show. "Do not cover domestic violence with makeup, condemn the aggressor!"
Embedded content: https://twitter.com/S_Errazzouki/status/802149089802670082
Honestly, everything about this segment was wrong. Instead of condemning the aggressor, what they did was teach women how to hide and cover abuse. It's the same sickening message women have been taught for years: to not speak up, to not expose the aggressor, and to hide their bruises and their shame. All this message does is oppress and endanger women, rather than empower them.
The station issued an apology shortly after the outrage:
The management believes that this is completely inappropriate and has an editorial error in judgement, in light of the sensitivity and the gravity of the subject of violence against women. The channel offers its sincerest apologies for this error in judgement and is committed to taking the necessary steps in regards to the people responsible for this error and to strengthen the tools of control and supervision on this subject.
Morocco has been highly criticized in the past for their responses to domestic violence. A 2009 national survey by the Moroccan High Commission for Planning found that 62.8 percent of women ages 18 to 65 had experienced physical, psychological, sexual or economic violence. In other words, these women need better solutions than how to cover up their bruises using makeup.
Image via Sabahiyat 2M/YouTube
