The Portrayal of Statutory Rape in Albania: A Survey of Mass and Social Media

• In Event: Media and social construction of crime II

Abstract

In January this year, the story of a 13-year-old in Divjaka was reported by the media, and the photos from her ‘weeding’ to a 35-year-old became viral. This story became the starting point for this study that aims to research the representation of statutory rape in the Albanian media. The focus of the research is to examine how traditional mass media portrays statutory rape and how this delicate issue is discussed in social media platforms.
The research will be based on an in-depth analysis of news articles, opinion pieces, and social media interactions that aim to explore the narratives, perspectives, and public responses regarding statutory rape cases in Albania. This content analysis of media and discourse analysis will evaluate how the media frames cases of statutory rape and will reveal cultural attitudes to sexual violence, but will also underline practices of victim-blaming and sensationalism. In addition, the study will analyze social media responses and discussions and will draw conclusions on types of public discussions, victim advocacy in the public discourse, as well as the occurrence of victim shaming or any other minimization of violence.
This research is envisioned as a qualitative study that explores the issue of statutory rape portrayed in Albanian media and how the public perceives it in general. The results of this study will bring light to some of the societal attitudes towards sexual violence, advise the media for further improvements on their coverage of such cases, as well as remind the public about the need for understanding and support in dealing with sexual abuse and rape.

Author

• Brunilda Haxhiu, University of New York Tirana