The Social Construction of High Profile Juvenile Sexual Assault Cases by Media Outlets: Perpetuating Rape Culture?

• In Event: Media and Public Perceptions of School Shootings and Violent Juvenile Offenders

Abstract

Since the conception of the juvenile justice system, concern over aggression and violence among juveniles has been a constant in the United States. With today’s youth increasingly connected to technology some of these instances of violence have transferred to the virtual world. Simultaneously, decisions about such acts of violence are tried in the public eye, often before the case even reaches the courtroom. This study focuses on how the media covers high profile juvenile sexual assault cases that have been heavily scrutinized via social media. Content analysis is used to explore the media coverage of three recent cases, cities include: Toronto, Canada; Steubenville, Ohio; and Maryville, Connecticut. Using a systematic random selection of Lexis Nexis articles spanning a year surrounding three major incidents we code major news outlets (i.e. New York Times) and analyze coverage of the cases. Particular attention is paid on how rape myths are perpetuated or subverted within the coverage.

Authors

• Anna E. Kosloski, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

• Bridget K. Welch, Western Illinois University