The Differential Representation of Latina and Black Female Victims in Front-Page News Stories: A Qualitative Document Analysis

Abstract

Critical race feminists posit that perceptions of White and minority females differ, which suggests that media representations will vary among female crime victims. To explore this proposition, we examined front-page crime stories from four different U.S. newspapers using Altheide’s approach to qualitative document analysis. We found that stories about White female victims received more repeated coverage and were more likely to contain sympathetic narratives than stories about Latina/Black female victims. In contrast, Latina/Black female victims were more likely to be portrayed as risk-takers and “bad” women, and their victimization was normalized through descriptions of their unsafe environments.

The representation of women and girls of color in United States crime news

“…In reality, Black females have higher rates of victimization than white females (Bureau of Justice Statistics, ) and Latinas (Catalano, ), but the media underrepresent their victimizations (Moody et al, ; Wanzo, ). The news media often characterize Black female victims as “bad people” (Meyers, )—specifically, they are described as bad mothers, bad wives, or as generally deviant (Slakoff & Brennan, ). The news media also portray Black female victims as risk‐taking because, at the time of victimization, they are described as using drugs and/or alcohol or as engaging in sex work (Ardovini‐Brooker & Caringella‐MacDonald, ; see also Slakoff & Brennan, ).…”

“…Although research indicates the media portray minority male offenders on television via their mugshots (Chiricos & Eschholz, ), very little is known about how female victims or offenders are portrayed via photograph. Both Gilchrist () and Slakoff and Brennan () found white female victims were more likely to have photographs attached to their news stories than minority female victims, but neither study qualitatively examined photographic content. Moreover, no scholars have yet examined the photographic content accompanying stories about female offenders .…”

“…The news media often characterize Black female victims as "bad people" (Meyers, 1997)-specifically, they are described as bad mothers, bad wives, or as generally deviant (Slakoff & Brennan, 2017). The news media also portray Black female victims as risk-taking because, at the time of victimization, they are described as using drugs and/or alcohol or as engaging in sex work (Ardovini-Brooker & Caringella-MacDonald, 2002; see also Slakoff & Brennan, 2017). Depicting a Black female victim as a bad person or as risk-taking serves to dehumanize them in the eyes of the public and makes their victimization seem less important (Slakoff & Brennan, 2017).…”

“…White female victims are on top of the "victim hierarchy" because they embody the ideal victim stereotype (Christie, 1986;Greer, 2007). The media overrepresent white female victims (Moody, Dorries, & Blackwell, 2009) and often portray them as innocent, virginal (Greer, 2007), wealthy (Stillman, 2007), as living in safe neighborhoods (Slakoff & Brennan, 2017), and as damsels in distress (Holland, 2006). Moreover, the media tend not blame white female victims for their own victimization (Slakoff & Brennan, 2017).…”

“…The media overrepresent white female victims (Moody, Dorries, & Blackwell, 2009) and often portray them as innocent, virginal (Greer, 2007), wealthy (Stillman, 2007), as living in safe neighborhoods (Slakoff & Brennan, 2017), and as damsels in distress (Holland, 2006). Moreover, the media tend not blame white female victims for their own victimization (Slakoff & Brennan, 2017). In the real world, those who murder white females are more likely to get the death penalty (Holcomb, Williams, & Demuth, 2004), pointing to the importance of white female victims in the eyes of jurors and judges.…”