‘Forget TV, it will never show you the experience of the victim’: representations of rape in Mindhunter

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Media depictions of gendered violence often fall in line with negative stereotypes and rape myths. These depictions may influence public understandings of gendered violence and affect societal responses to victims and rape. However, media products such as crime drama can also raise awareness of these issues and be meaningful for victims of violence. The recent Netflix crime drama Mindhunter is analysed in light of these debates and although it presents a progressive, more realistic picture of gendered violence, it omits the voices and perspectives of women and victims.