Citation

Lee C, Wong JS. Violence Against Women 2019; ePub(ePub): 1077801219832325.

Affiliation

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801219832325

PMID

30835161

Abstract

Domestic violence is a widespread issue, with victims suffering emotional and physical harm and severe cases resulting in homicide. Media presentation of these extreme instances may affect public opinion and related policies. The current study considered the portrayal of domestic homicides in Canadian print news, using articles published in the Vancouver Sun between 2004 and 2015. A content analysis shows domestic homicides were portrayed as isolated incidents and perpetuated the notions of victim blaming and offender excusing, rather than as connected to a pattern of domestic violence. This portrayal may affect how domestic violence and homicides are perceived and addressed.

Language: en

Keywords

content analysis; domestic violence; homicide; media presentation; victim blaming