Child Abuse Midterm

M4A2 Project 1

Media’s Effect on Child Abuse and Neglect

CJ436: Child Abuse and Neglect

Danielle Mitchell

April 9, 2016

The language of child abuse takes a number of distinct forms. First, there is the descriptive language in traditional words like cruelty, neglect, ill treatment, indecency, incest and, torture, grooming, and exploitation that have framed popular media conceptualizations of child abuse. This is the language adopted by the media in reporting child abuse cases. It reflects back to the public its own moral outrage and condemnation, which some commentators argue can form moral panics (Fitzgibbon, 2012). Mass media has received much flack for its skewed representation of child abuse and neglect, focusing largely on less frequent but extreme and sensational cases rather than proposing potential solutions such as positive parenting.

Two recent disturbing stories of child abuse are currently being portrayed in national media. In Mesa, Arizona, a man and woman were arrested on Monday, January 18th in connection with the worst case of child abuse that area has ever seen. A three-year-old child, who had allegedly been offered up for sex, was rescued after authorities found her in a trash bag surrounded by feces in a closet. Her mouth, arms, hands and legs were duct taped. She was also malnourished. The child was left with the suspect by her mother who was homeless at the time in order for her to work. The victim had many bruises and scars that went across her body. Police said they were tipped off about the abuse after a man observed the child bound and gagged with duct tape kept inside a closet. The suspect asked the responding party if he wanted to have sex with the child. The additional party reported what he had seen to the police after he left the residence. The suspect was arrested for child abuse, and many other felonies.

In Muskogee, Oklahoma police arrested two women in connection with a child abuse investigation. Detectives said the...