Australian news media portrayals of filicide
Depictions of mental health and the flawed mother trope
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21584639 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Amie Louise Simington (Deakin University), Carrie Farmer (0000-0003-2905-2173, Deakin University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 82 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 563-588 |
| Publication date | 2024-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Crime Law and Social Change (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0925-4994 • E-ISSN: 1573-0751 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10611-024-10158-6 |
| OpenAlex | W4399355029 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 60 |
In reporting cases of filicide, the news media often relies on dominant cultural discourses that situate offenders within expected gender roles. This stereotypical framing can influence public perception of offenders and amplify outdated gendered expectations. This paper examines the portrayal of male and female filicide offenders, with a focus on depictions of mental health and the ‘flawed mother’ trope. The study drew from a sample of 103 Australian news media articles published between 2004 and 2021. Qualitative media analysis was used to examine tone and content, and to explore the gendered cultural lens through which offenders can be portrayed. The study addresses a gap in the literature by focusing on filicide and news media in Australia. The findings largely confirm that news media coverage of filicide perpetuates key cultural norms and gendered expectations of parenthood. The ‘flawed mother’ narrative, depictions of mental health issues, and a focus on parenthood were prevalent for female offenders. For male offenders there was general disconnect with their role as a parent. The findings provide a valuable insight into differential news media coverage of male and female parents who kill their children
Art · Criminology · Literature · Media studies · Mental health · Psychiatry · Psychoanalysis · Sociology · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse · Psychology
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| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |