Understanding Media Representations of Child Abuse - Essay Example

? The Value of using the Notion of ‘Moral Panic’ to understand Media Representations of Child Abuse Introduction Cohen, the author of the book Folk Devils and Moral Panics (1972), argues that moral panic happens when “(a) condition, episode, person or group of persons turn out to be identified as a danger to the prevailing societal values and interests” (Cohen 2011, p.1). Moral panic features aspects such as escalation of fear or misunderstanding centring on an imminent deviant threat to the present societal norms. Moral panic is employed in the media in justification of the moral and social role of the media, especially in reasserting societal values. The reporting of facts is enough to produce concern, anxiety, or panic within the society and hence, the media have a critical role in shaping issues centring on child abuse and child protection. The media have a fundamental role of placing the crisis of child abuse into the minds of the public as well as setting the political agenda on the issue. The media have played a critical role in propelling societal consciousness of child abuse and neglect, not necessarily in community education campaigns, as via ongoing media stories and features reporting on cases, research, and intervention initiatives. One way that the media has accomplished this is through highlighting failures of child protection services by revisiting previous cases or highlighting a topical case on child abuse, neglect or murder. The media have served as agents of moral indignation; as a catalyst for swaying the popular reaction and opinion on matters affecting the society such as child abuse (Garland 2008, p.10). The media report the events in a sensationalized form whereby the reporting and publicity generated enhance anxiety and concern about the events (Cohen 2011, p.2). The occurrences of moral panic are “stylized and stereotypical” depictions of reality. The press can be considered as the main performer in the theatre of the moral panic. Moral panic stems from five elements; concern, hostility, consensus, disproportionality, and volatility (Altheide 2009, p.81). Child Abuse Child abuse refers to any form of social, physical, psychological, emotional, or sexual abuse of a child in which the child’s safety, survival, self-esteem, growth and development are threatened. There are four forms of child abuse, namely: emotional child abuse, child neglect, physical child abuse, and child sexual abuse. Emotional child abuse has a detrimental effect on the child’s mental health as well as social development, and end up leaving deep and enduring psychological scars on the child. Child neglect, on the other hand, infers a pattern of failure to avail child’s basic needs such as food, clothing, hygiene, or supervision. Physical child abuse revolves around causing physical harm or injury to the child. Child sexual abuse is the most complicated form of child abuse owing to its layers of guilt and shame, which makes it a hidden form of abuse. Child sexual abuse does not necessarily involve body contact. Exposing the child to sexual situation or material is in essence child sexual abuse, irrespective of whether or not body contact is involved. This form of abuse can be delineated as the most outstanding form of abuse that dominates media stories. Media stories on sexual predators and children exposure to pornographic stories dominate human interest stories. In highlighting cases of child abuse, the media have successfully raised concern on the increasing entrenchment of the crime in the society and its ramifications to the moral fibre. Discussion Child abuse is a significant concern in the society as cases of child abuse dominate mass media now and then. Although, child abuse is not necessarily novel, the media can effectively instigate fresh national reaction to such occurrences by orchestrating an exaggerate account on the same. When used constructively, the media are an essential tool in advocating against child abuse by broadening community knowledge (Wilczynski, Young & Sinclair 1999, p.263). Child abuse is a trendy topic for “soft news” or human interest media stories. The media pose moral questions in arousing “concerned citizens” interests (Thompson 2005, p.26). In orchestrating moral panic, the media confirm rather than allay growing fears held by the public. Moral panic leads to overreaction, which magnifies the original area of concern; the application of moral panic in representation of child abuse is crucial in sensitizing the public on the depth of the social problem (Garland 2008, p.18). The media have a crucial role in shaping public constructions of crimes and criminality. The media play a crucial role in orchestrating moral panics on aspects perceived as a considerable threat to the moral fibre of society (Garland 2008, p.12). Mass media play a critical role in providing, sustaining, and policing the accessible frameworks and definitions of deviance. In perpetuating moral panic, the media play a crucial role in structuring public awareness of and shaping attitudes towards social problems (Wilczynski, Young & Sinclair 1999, p.265). The media exert a crucial influence on people’s perception of the level of crime such as child abuse in the community. The utilization of moral panic leads to an enhanced anxiety and concern about child abuse. This makes people extensively conscious of the degree of the problem and may lead to concrete action been taken to remedy the situation. The increase in fear of crime translates into enhanced endorsement of harsher penalties to be meted to the violators. The media representations on cases of child abuse such as child sexual abuse shape public attitudes on the extent and character of the crime, and the danger it poses in society. News stories on increasing cases of child sexual abuse may compel the public to subscribe to the notion that the antisocial behaviour is out of control. This in turn, heightens awareness within the society and may lead to calls for support for harsher measures against the vice (Altheide 2009, p.79). Nevertheless, moral panic is detrimental in some respects; when people perceive that they are living in a high-crime or high- violence society, chances are that they may respond by becoming even more isolated from the society. This leads to loss of personal well-being and dilutes the strength of civil society. Moral panic serves to deflect attention from wide, inclusive causes of social problems such as child abuse. This narrows the possibility for meaningful debate in the topic (Thompson 2005, p.30). Conclusion The value of moral panic in understanding the media’s portrayal of child abuse lies in its capability to aid people in understanding the wider ramifications to the society. The sensationalisation of crimes against children has caused moral outrage and fear in the community, but it has also served to make society, and the governments who govern them, confront the difficult situations. It can be understood that moral panic is a key weapon that the media has in affecting the manner in which people, society and governments approach topical issues such as child sexual assault. The media have a critical role in cultivating public attitudes. The media can utilize moral panic to sway opinion on issues such as child abuse in society, whereby it moves the issue from the periphery into the mainstream. In reality, the media have played a crucial role in defining what is acceptable and what is “deviant” in society, hence contributing to definitions on what may or may not encompass child abuse. In so doing, the media have brought the issue of child abuse into the limelight. In carrying out this mandate, the media have emerged, at times, to hold more influence on child protection policy and practice compared to professionals working in the arena of child protection. Media coverage is critical if public concern for children safety is to remain vibrant within political agenda and if the present child protection services are to remain accountable. The moral panic created by media has in instances resulted to social policies and legislative measures directed at child protection. References List Altheide, D. (2009). Moral panic: From Sociological concept to public discourse, Crime Media Culture 5 (1), pp.79-99. Critcher, C. (2008). Moral panic analysis: Past, present and future, Sociology Compass 2 (4), pp.1127-1144. Cohen, S. (2011). Folk devils and moral panics, New York, Routledge. pp.1-20. Garland, D. (2008). On the concept of moral panic, Crime Media Culture 4 (1), pp.9-30. Thompson, K. (2005). Moral panics, New York, Routledge. pp.25-35. Wilczynski, A., Young, K. & Sinclair, K. (1999). Moral tales: Representations of child abuse in the quality and tabloid media, Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology 32 (3), pp.262-283. Read More