Smoke and Mirrors

Abstract

News media are in a position to project certain perspectives on domestic violence while marginalizing others, which has implications for public understanding and policy development. This study applies discourse analysis to articles on domestic violence in two U.K. national daily newspapers published in 2001-2002 and 2011-2012 to evaluate evidence of change over a 10-year time span. The research examines how discourses of domestic violence are constructed through newspaper representations of victims, predominantly women, and perpetrators, predominantly men. Although one of the newspapers adopts a respectful position toward women, the textual and visual techniques adopted by the other reveal a tendency for blaming the victim and sexualizing violence related to perceptions of "deserving" or "undeserving" women victims.

Domestic Violence and Education: Examining the Impact of Domestic Violence on Young Children, Children, and Young People and the Potential Role of Schools

“…The prevalence of domestic violence as the most common factor cited in cases of children in need in England in 2016–2017 (Department for Education [DFE], 2017a) emphasizes the need for addressing this enduring problem through prevention, early intervention and education. So too is wider attitudinal and social change needed whereby domestic violence is no longer trivialized as ‘just another domestic’ or portrayed as the fault of, predominantly women, victims, as evidenced in our earlier research into media representations (Lloyd and Ramon, 2017). Domestic violence must be addressed as a public health concern and not only as a privatized, individualized problem.…”

“…Despite good practices taking place in schools and with partner organizations, funding cuts in the United Kingdom have meant some support services for victims of domestic violence are no longer available (Lloyd and Ramon, 2017; Ofsted et al, 2017). Survey findings from domestic violence support services in England show that 60 per cent of respondents cited funding cuts, and the associated uncertainty, as their most significant challenge (Women’s Aid, 2018).…”

“…Teachers and educationalists lament the marketization of education whereby examination results have become a key measure by which schools define themselves and are defined by others, and schools are set in competition with each other in the form of league tables (Berry, 2016; Berry, 2017; Scott and Scott, 2018). Research with teachers shows such changes are negatively impacting teacher-student relationships and student wellbeing, with teachers reporting having less time to attend to the needs of individual students, and reporting that their own stress levels sometimes adversely affect their interaction with students (Hutchings, 2015). Baginsky et al (2015, p. 358) discern tension between the prioritization of examination results and children’s wellbeing:…”

La mediación fragmentaria. Mediatización y controversia en la nueva esfera pública

“…Un estudio reciente que analiza diferentes investigaciones del ámbito anglosajón sobre representaciones de la violencia contra las mujeres en los medios de comunicación (Sutherland et al, 2015) dio cuenta de un "foco desproporcionado" en las noticias de homicidios de mujeres cometidas por sus parejas. A partir de la comparación de diferentes estudios, los autores encontraron que la mayoría de las piezas no presenta el contexto social en que se produce la violencia; operan a través de elementos sensacionalistas presentes en el lenguaje o en el la manera en que se enfocan episodios de menos peso estadístico en la realidad (violencia sexual, por ejemplo); presenta evidencias erróneas acerca de los autores y lugares donde la violencia contra las mujeres se comete -olvida referenciar que es cometida mayoritariamente por conocidos y en ambientes domésticos-; responsabiliza directa o indirectamente las víctimas de la violencia que sufrieron; escucha preferentemente voces masculinas y expertas en detrimento de las mujeres o de los agentes directamente implicados con la violencia (Sutherland et al, 2015) Los análisis destacan un enmarcado sesgado de la cobertura, que repite mitos y estereotipos que culpabilizam a las mujeres y ocultan la responsabilidad de los autores (BERNS, 2001;Berns, 2004;Bullock y Cubert, 2002;Lloyd & Ramon, 2016; Richards, Kirkland Gillespie, Dwayne Smith y, 2011; R. Simões, 2011; J. R. B. de Simões, 2007;Taylor, 2009).…”

Analysis of Domestic Violence Related Homicides in Los Angeles County: Media Portrayals, Demographics, and Precipitating Circumstances

“…Research on media coverage of IPV and IPH cases have repeatedly shown several overarching themes including reinforcement of gender stereotypes, perception of IPV as a "private issue," victim blaming, and limited media coverage of same-sex incidents. (Carlyle et al 2014;Estes and Webber 2017;Lloyd and Ramon 2017;Savage et al 2017;Scarduzio et al 2017). These simplified narratives sensationalize victims and perpetrators, homicide circumstances and settings and continue to frame IPH as isolated events instead of as the culmination of complex problems and the escalation of ongoing violence (Carlyle et al 2014;Estes and Webber 2017;Lloyd and Ramon 2017;Savage et al 2017;Scarduzio et al 2017).…”