Media Representation Of Sex Offenders Essay

One of the most common depictions of sex offenders within the media is that of the ‘predator’, shown as committing heinous and violent crimes. This portrayal focuses on the most serious and volatile cases, depicting a man with predatory behaviour, deemed monstrous, perverted and sexually deviant. Media sources generalise stories within this area of crime, forming a stereotypical image of sex offenders which deflects reality.. Various studies have shown the media's representation of these types of offenders is exaggerated and overstated, with the use of emotive language to perpetuate a negative image. Terms such as ‘monstrous’ are dehumanizing, leading to the perception of these individuals as lacking in humanity. This increases fear and mistrust

Depictions of women are often romanticised, portraying them as coerced and placing blame for the crime onto external factors. In comparison, the media represents male offenders as being predatory, blaming the crime for their perverted characteristics. These differences can be particularly evidenced through media stories whereby over 46 percent of male sex offenders were described as predatory, compared to only 11 percent of females. This has impacted the public perception as most people view male sex offenders more negatively than females. However, academics argue that media depictions of both sexes remain the same and both are perceived equally, though this could be disputed. Additionally, media sources fail to address how a large number of sexual offences are perpetrated by children, accounting for over 40 percent of all child abuse. Scholars such as Hackett states this challenges dominant stereotypes of sexual offences being adult-perpetrated, a truth that society finds uncomfortable due to the innocence associated with children. Thus, the media depict an image of sex offenders which invokes greater fear and allows the vilifying of these

It has been made evident that male offenders are depicted more negatively with predatory behaviours, whereas women are shown as blameworthy, therefore, do not receive the same stigmas. This results in female offenders being more likely to be received positively into society and be accepted back into the community. In comparison, men are more likely to be rejected by community members due to increased fear. This is harmful as academics indicate that a sense of community is crucial for positive reintegration. And offenders who do not receive acceptance into the community are more likely to re-offend. This can be evidenced through recidivism rates, which are over 13 percent for males, in comparison to only 1 percent for females. Additionally, in the limited cases whereby young sexual offenders are shown in the media, studies show this has a detrimental impact on reintegration. When information about youth offenders is spread within society, they become recipients of violence and abuse. These individuals are excluded from education and shunned out of the community, have issues with employment in adulthood and have a higher chance of reoffending. It is important to note that data relating to youth and female sex offenders is particularly limited, making it more difficult to draw comparisons to that of adult male sex offenders. Overall, media representations of gendered