#womanhood & The media's convenient Love Affair

The Media’s Convenient Love Affair with “Womanhood”

By Andrade Encarnaçao 

When 17-year-old Lisa was brutally murdered in Abcoude, Netherlands, on August 20, 2025, the headlines screamed about the loss of a young woman. The story of a white, female teenager stabbed while biking home sparked a national outcry, with campaigns like “We claim the night, let women get home safely” raising over €130,000 to protect women. 

Suddenly, “womanhood” was back in vogue. The media, politicians, and even actresses like Nienke ’s Gravemade rallied around the term, decrying violence against women as a societal scourge. But where was this clarity on “womanhood” just months ago, when society couldn’t even define what a woman is? And why is it that when women try to press charges—whether for assault, harassment, or worse—the same media and society often dismiss them? Isn’t that a form of woman-hating too? The Convenient Return of “Woman” Lisa’s tragic death is a gut-punch, no question. The 22-year-old suspect, an asylum seeker linked to her murder and two sexual assaults, has fueled debates about safety and justice. But let’s talk about the media’s role here. When Lisa was killed, “woman” became a sacred term again, a rallying cry to highlight femicide and misogyny. Yet, not long ago, the same outlets were tiptoeing around the word. Debates over transgender rights—bathroom access, sports, even the 2023 Miss Netherlands win by transgender woman Rikkie Valerie Kollé—had us all questioning who gets to claim “womanhood.” If you dared to argue for biological women’s spaces, you were labeled a bigot. Insult a trans person claiming womanhood? That was a social crime. But now, when it suits the narrative, “woman” is back, no questions asked. Why the flip-flop? It’s almost like the media picks and chooses when “womanhood” matters. When a tragedy like Lisa’s happens, it’s a perfect storm for clicks and outrage—violence against women sells. But when the story doesn’t fit, like when women push for their rights or safety in everyday contexts, the narrative shifts. Suddenly, we’re back to debating pronouns or inclusivity, and women’s concerns get sidelined. It’s as if “woman” is only a useful label when it serves an agenda. When Women Speak, Who Listens? Here’s the kicker: while the media loves “womanhood” for a headline, it’s deafeningly silent when women try to hold their abusers accountable. Look at the stats—globally, only about 10% of sexual assault cases lead to a conviction, and in the Netherlands, the numbers aren’t much better. Women who press charges often face skepticism, victim-blaming, or outright dismissal. “Why didn’t you fight back?” “What were you wearing?” “Are you sure you didn’t lead him on?” These questions aren’t just from random trolls—they’re baked into how society, and yes, the media, handles women’s stories. Take Lisa’s case. The outrage is real, and it should be. But where’s that energy when a woman reports an assault that doesn’t make national headlines? When a woman presses charges against a partner, a coworker, or a stranger, why does the narrative shift to doubting her credibility? If the media can champion “womanhood” to mourn Lisa, why can’t it believe women when they’re alive and fighting for justice? That double standard—celebrating “women” in tragedy but ignoring them in truth—feels like its own kind of misogyny. The Silence of the Activists And what about the LGBTQ community, who’ve been vocal on gender issues for years? Their silence in Lisa’s case is telling. Months ago, they were front and center, advocating for trans inclusion and redefining womanhood. 

Now, when “woman” is plastered across every newsstand, not a peep. Maybe this case doesn’t touch their issues directly—Lisa’s murder isn’t about trans rights, after all. But the absence of their voices highlights the selective nature of activism, too. When “womanhood” is a hot topic, everyone’s got an opinion. When it’s not, crickets. Did I Miss the Memo? So, when did the rules change? When did “woman” go from a contested term to a media darling? The truth is, there was no memo—just a media machine that picks its battles. Lisa’s murder is a tragedy that demands attention, but it’s also a convenient way to sell papers and push agendas. Meanwhile, women who face violence or harassment every day are left shouting into the void, their stories buried under skepticism or ignored entirely. 

 If we’re going to talk about “womanhood,” let’s talk about it consistently. Let’s talk about it when women are alive, pressing charges, demanding safety, and fighting to be believed. Let’s call out the media for using “woman” when it suits them but abandoning it when the story’s less sexy. And let’s ask why society only seems to care about women when they’re victims on a front page—not when they’re survivors demanding justice. 

 The hatred of women isn’t just in the violence that took Lisa’s life. It’s in the silence, the doubt, and the double standards that follow. If we’re going to reclaim “womanhood,” let’s do it for all women—not just the ones who fit the headline. ---