Date of Award

Spring 2020

Degree Type

Thesis

Department

Sociology

Advisor(s)

Amy McClure

Second Advisor

Amy Armenia

Third Advisor

Stephanie Guittar Gonzalez

Abstract

In 2017, The New York Times published an article titled, “Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades” written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey (2019), exposing one of the most abusive sexual predators in Hollywood. This sparked a movement among victim-survivors and their allies now known as the #MeToo Movement. This movement brought issues of sexual assault to the forefront. The New York Times covered this movement extensively and can be considered very influential in their coverage of the movement. For this project, I conducted a content analysis of 31 New York Times articles to identify how The New York Times framed the #MeToo Movement as it was unfolding. After coding for narrative construction of the abuser and victim-survivor, noting structural implications, and coding rape myths and rape culture within their text, I found that The New York Times tended to maintain focus on victim-survivors over abusers. I also document the presence of rape myths and sociologically analyze the implications of these enduring myths. I note that while rape culture was not explicit in articles, there was more subtle language that I suggest needs reconsideration. Further research should focus on other institutions within our culture that may be supporting or resisting rape culture (i.e. the government).

Comments

Hannah R. Jureller is the rights holder of this thesis.

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