A critical analysis of the media representation of the Mazan rape case: patriarchal dynamics in French news media

Abstract

The thesis examines how men and women, whether as perpetrators or victims, are represented in crime news narratives. The study aims to investigate how patriarchal dynamics are being reconstructed and disseminated through the media as a cultural norm. Utilizing modern feminist theory and media analysis methods, this study critically examines the news media role in perpetuating gender inequality. A specific rape case from France has been selected as a case study to analyze how gender-based violence is represented in three different French newspapers. The findings contribute to a broader discussion on the structural causes of gender-based violence and the media’s role in shaping public discourse.