Framing Responsibility: An analysis of local news media's representation of sexist violence
Open Access
Author:
Mcguire, Meghann Elizabeth
Area of Honors:
Communication Arts and Sciences (Berks/Lehigh)
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Cheryl L Nicholas, Thesis Supervisor Evelyn Michele Ramsey, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Sandy Feinstein, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
domestic violence hegemony local news media patriarchy rape representation responsibility victim blaming
Abstract:
This study critically analyzes the representation of sexist violence in news articles from the Reading Eagle, a local newspaper for the Reading, Pennsylvania area, during a time span of four years (2008-2011). The focus of the study is on intersections of gender, race and class as reflected in the journalistic choices in these articles. This critical examination of representations of sexist violence explores how worldviews (such as patriarchal ideologies, myths and stereotypes) are regular elements of local news media’s portrayal of violence against women. Victim responsibility and perpetrator blame alleviation are both prevalent in the articles examined, aligning with extant research done by critical feminist scholars, which suggests that the media’s representation of violence against women perpetuates a hegemonic structure of patriarchy and male dominance.
