Victimized Female Sex Worker Representation in the UK News Media

Abstract

Sex workers face a high level of violence as well as discrimination and stigma in regard to their profession. This chapter examines how British news media portray female sex workers when they are victims of violent and sexual crimes. The authors used discourse analysis to better understand how the victim’s status is perceived, created, or changed through the reporting of media. Four news organizations were chosen for data collection: Independent, The Guardian, Daily Mail and The Sun. Using an inductive approach, six discourses were found Victim blaming, Labelling, Media sensationalism, Vulnerability, Legitimisation, and Any woman. Nils Christie’s Ideal victim theory provided a framework to discuss the results. While Victim blaming, Labelling and Media sensationalism question the victim’s motive to be in the place of the crime, the activity the victim engaged in, and their responsibility in regard to the victimisation they suffered, Vulnerability and Legitimisation portray the victim as weak, according to the theory. Implications for victims and society are discussed.