Social construction of illicit teacher-student relationships: A media analysis
Date
2016
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Publisher
Texas Woman's University
Abstract
Teacher sexual misconduct has received widespread media attention. The focus of
this study is to examine and analyze online news articles about cases involving teacher student
participants. The goal is to investigate how sexual misconduct by teachers is
portrayed by media. Most research has been journalistic in nature. Therefore, journalists
are filters for the narratives that surround each case. While sexual abuse of students is a
serious issue, it has failed to garner a consolidated effort to provide preventative methods.
Quantitative methods are used in analysis of the demographic characteristics,
while qualitative methods are used to examine terminology in news articles. By
combining content analysis with critical discourse analysis, I am able to examine data
from 308 news articles involving 104 Texas teachers from 2014.
Findings show that media coverage differs based on gender, race, and age of
participants. Terminology in each article frames the participants in a precise manner
and highlights particular details. In addition, certain types of cases receive national and
international coverage, while others are ignored. Media coverage of teacher misconduct
cases is a complex issue involving factors such as language, headline choices, bias, and
stereotypes. Preventative measures will require this issue to be seen as a harmful social
problem. Since media has the power to influence public opinion, understanding media’s
role is a key component.
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Keywords
educator sexual misconduct, child sexual abuse, schools, teachers, media coverage
Citation
Lancaster, L. A. (2016). Social construction of illicit teacher-student relationships: A media analysis (Doctoral dissertation, Texas Woman's University).