This study examines the social construction of girls' violence and gang involvement as a social problem by print journalists and social problems experts (namely social scientists) as claims-making groups. The issue of girls' violence and gang involvement has recently received great attention in the public eye due to increased exposure in the news media. However, social scientists and other experts have also been at the fore of claims-making about this issue. As a result of varying interests, this issue has been constructed by two sets of claims-makers (print journalists as media representatives, and social problems experts) in two different ways. This study will also discuss the relationship between print journalists and social problems experts, as the media and social problems experts are not mutually exclusive groups: the claims of experts are presented in both media publications and professional fora and are conveyed differently in terms of their content and context. This study reveals the different constructions of girls' violence and gang involvement as a social problem, and the interests and agendas which influence print media claims-making and the claims-making by social problems experts in professional fora. This research also explores the relationship between print media and expert claimants, the impact these groups have on public perception and social policy, and the implications differing constructions have for young offenders in Canada. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/4243 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Kirst, Maritt. |
| Contributors | Petrunik, Michael, |
| Publisher | University of Ottawa (Canada) |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 138 p. |
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