Media framing of women in organised crime: An analysis of the Portuguese press

• In Event: Media and social construction of crime I

Abstract

The significant attention that information and entertainment media dedicate to crime underscores its central role as a cultural construct in contemporary societies. Organised crime has long captured media attention, shaping public perceptions, that are contextually located and specific. The narratives constructed by the press impact not only public opinion, but also in law enforcement agencies and policymakers, serving as a vital tool in combating organised crime by fostering public trust and breaking the code of silence imposed by criminal groups.
While several studies address the ethnic grounding of organized crime narratives, the involvement of women in criminal organisations remains largely underexplored. This study presents findings from a qualitative content analysis of newspaper articles published in two highly representative Portuguese newspapers. It examines the extent to which the narratives produced by these media articulate with gender stereotypes about violence, passivity and criminality, while interrogating the meanings that femininity and masculinity assume in the context of organised crime practices.

Authors

• Ana Guerreiro, University of Maia (UMAIA), Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Gender Studies (CIEG.UMAIA) & School of Criminology, University of Porto & Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Justice (CIJ/FDUP)

• Lígia Afonso, Interdisciplinary Research Center on Justice (CIJ/FDUP) & Fernando Pessoa University (UFP)

• Pedro Sousa, Interdisciplinary Research Center on Justice (CIJ/FDUP); School of Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Porto