Equality and Inequality in the News: Gender differences in Print Media Portrayal of Homicide Perpetrators

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

The media is arguably the most influential contributor to the public’s understanding of crime and criminal offenders (Chermak, 1995). Although there is substantial literature on the media’s depiction of offenders in general, there is considerably less focus on the media’s representation of female offenders, with a common portrayal of such offenders as “victims of circumstance” (Brennan & Vandenberg, 2009). Even less frequently discussed are gender differences in the media’s presentation of perpetrators of homicide. The current study seeks to explore the portrayal of male versus female homicide offenders in print media. The sample includes all articles that report on a homicide within the province of British Columbia, Canada (n=4,100) published in the Vancouver Sun newspaper over a 12-year period from 2004 - 2015. Of those articles that mentioned gender of the offender, approximately 10 percent reported on female perpetrators. Articles on males versus female offenders were compared on a series of measures including a scale of offender portrayal (ranging from positive to negative), statements from public officials, and article prominence. Results suggest discernible differences in the ways in which male and female offenders are portrayed in newspaper reports; implications with respect to public understanding of crime are discussed.

Authors

• Kelsey Gushue, Simon Fraser University

• Jennifer Wong, Simon Fraser University

• Jason Gravel, University of California, Irvine