Shaping Perceptions by a Few Key Words: A Look at How the Media Controls the Public's Perceptions of Rape and Domestic Violence Victims

Rape and domestic violence victims are the least supported victims in our criminal justice system. We need to understand why these victims receive minimal support and are continuously re-victimized.I conducted a study of 41 newspaper articles and 6 blogs on 6 separate cases involving rape and domestic violence. Each article was coded looking for how the "victim" and "offender" were portrayed in the articles. The "offender" was overwhelmingly shown in a positive light in majority of the articles coded. The "victim", on the other hand, tended to be shown in a more negative manner and received very little support (if any) by the comments posted on the blogs.Figuring out why rape and domestic violence victims have the least support in our criminal justice system would help us to better serve and protect these victims. It would help the public not to re-victimize them and help future and past victims to come forward and receive the protection and support they need and deserve.

Author

• Cunningham, Vanessa Lynn

Language

• en

Keyword

• rape
• media
• public perceptions
• domestic violence
• media influence
• victims

Date created

• 2011

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Sociology

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Chambliss, William J

Committee Member(s)

• Ken, Ivy

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/kd17cs96z