Several science bloggers this month are spotlighting sexual violence as a social problem and the Scienceblogs portal has jumped on board. The focus is mostly on international cases but it's important to also think about how sexual violence is framed and addressed here in the U.S.
This past semester, Katherine Broendel, one of my graduate students here at AU, reviewed studies of how sexual violence is framed in news coverage and public discourse, synthesizing this research to come up with a generalizable typology of commonly appearing frames and interpretations. These frames are important since each suggests the nature or root of the problem, who or what is responsible, and what should be done.
Below, from her thesis, are the frames that she identified. She then went on to use this typology to analyze news coverage over the past decade while also interviewing a range of DC-based advocacy groups regarding their communication strategies.
It's a fascinating thesis worth reading. If you would like a copy, drop a comment below with an email and I will ask Katherine to forward you an electronic version.
A Typology of Commonly Appearing Frames in News Coverage of Sexual ViolenceTechnical, Thematic focus
Media focuses primarily on the legal aspects of the sex crime, the legal definitions within the case, as well as statistics. There is little to no humanization or personalization in the story.
Virgin focus
The victim is the focus of media coverage and is portrayed as being innocent, vulnerable, or defenseless.Whore focus
The victim is portrayed as a whore-like figure who is presented as looking or behaving in a promiscuous manner. This frame includes the victim-blaming frame, which places the blame on the victim for provoking the attack.Perpetrator focus
Media coverage of the sex crime focuses on the perpetrator, their actions, motives, etc. rather than the victim.
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I don't want to read and digest an entire thesis, but I do think that it would be very interesting to hear more from Katherine Broendel as to her news analysis, discussions with advocacy groups regarding their communication strategies and, especially, what should be done.
I'd like to encourage her to write something up in publishable form.
Hee hee - I think it's funny that Gaythia rejects the thesis and would prefer something in "publishable" form. :) Argh.
Anyway. Matt, as you said the Silence is the Enemy initiative is targeted primarily at international violence, particularly violence in nations where genocide and civil conflict have become normal. I can only guess that the framing of sexual violence in those nations - by local media, by the international activist community, by international politicians, by the victims and their communities, and even by the perpetrators and their organizations - is very different. Are you aware of any research on media framing of sexual violence and rape in the context of war, and how it differs from the type of frames Broendel looked at?
Apparently, I need to rephrase this. Published as a thesis is not the same as published in a journal. I don't think that not wanting to read this particular material as a thesis in it's entirety is that worthy of a hee hee. Nobody would need blogs at all if they would just spend their time in the library reading the relevant journal articles. But as it turns out, getting a synopsis, and someone else's perspective on things is often better, or at least more possible. In this light, I just checked out bioephemera's own blog, and find it quite a worthwhile read.
Actually, I think that this material would also be a great topic to be published in a generally publicly accessible form, as in a magazine. And I believe others would benefit from and enjoy reading such an article also. A lot of the material on this blog is aimed directly at public involvement in science. This strikes me as an opportunity to reach out.
In my opinion, it is likely that someone else may incorporate her work into an article (or even a book). I was trying to encourage Katherine Broendel to do this herself. She could then get more direct credit for her work and ideas.
Hi all,
Katherine expressed an interest in joining Framing Science as a guest blogger this month on the topic of sexual violence and framing.
Stay tuned. Confirming her participation today.
--Matt
I'd love a copy of the thesis - thank you! I volunteer with the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, and this strikes me as a good topic for one of our meetings. :)
shira DOT lipkin AT gmail.com.
Is it okay to ask for a copy of the thesis even if one's just a curious layman?
Hey Matt,
I am a survivor advocate and sex educator and would love to read more of this. Send me a copy!
jgelbort@carleton.edu
I'd be interested to see if she portrayed any male victims, or if her victims were exclusively female.
Send a copy.
criolle
Please send me a copy of the thesis. Thanks.