Autumn Frei, MA
University of South Florida
ASC 2008 Paper Submission
Media Consideration of Female Sex Offenders:
A Content Analysis of U.S. Newspaper Reports from 1975-2006
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify the patterns and characteristics of female sex
offenders as represented in print media using content analysis of electronic newspaper
accounts of female perpetrated sex offending behavior in the United States between the
years of 1975 and 2006. An extensive search of online databases identifying incidents of
women involved in sexual abuse, assault, exploitation, or molestation cases reported in
the news media will be analyzed. This study will examine information regarding
descriptive representation of the female offender, law enforcement/community portrayal
of the offender, offense processes, explanation of offense, victim characteristics, and
judicial processing characteristics. An attempt to classify newspaper accounts according
to existing typologies of female sex offenders will be made according to the results of the
content analysis. The current study will consider the applicability of newspaper coverage
of female perpetrated sexual offending incidents to current knowledge of female sexual
offending as a phenomenon according to extant empirical research in this area. A
comparison of newspaper accounts of media reported female sex offenders with
published empirical literature will be made to determine the accuracy of media
portrayals. It is expected that media accounts will vary greatly from empirical
knowledge.
Page 1 of 1 
Convention