Acid Attack Survivors in Popular Culture and the Quest for Human Rights

Acid attack is a gender-based violence, the historical roots of which can be traced back to Victorian-era Britain and Europe. Over the years, acid emerged as a preferred choice of weapon in several other countries. The victims of acid violence are forced to live a life of suffering due to the resultant emotional and physical scars. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach and drawing on examples from literature, movies, and other media, the article will examine the popular culture portrayal of acid attack victims through the lens of Hall’s encoding/decoding model. It examines the ways in which narratives of acid attack victims are depicted and consumed by the public. Moreover, the article highlights the role of the popular media in challenging and perpetuating these narratives and the immense potential it holds to shape public discourse and policy surrounding human rights issues. The article discusses the human rights of the acid attack victims through the lens of Amartya Sen’s capabilities approach. Additionally, the article underscores the need for amplifying the voices and experiences of the acid attack victims in popular culture—thereby advocating for greater awareness, empathy, and activism.