First Advisor

Newman, Harmony

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Document Type

Thesis

Date Created

12-2018

Department

College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sociology, Sociology Student Work

Abstract

The current study analyzed the relationship between gender constructs and the construction of illness in the news media. Drawing on Entman’s (1993) framing analysis, the present study assessed if postpartum depression was constructed in the news media differently for men and women. Using LexisNexis, 153 news media articles were collected from major United States news sources between 1994-2016 using keywords such as, postpartum depression and paternal depression. The content analysis indicated that the definition of postpartum depression, the cause of the illness, the moral evaluations and the prescribed treatments were related to gender constructs. Overall, these findings enhance our understanding of frames in the news media. Frames subject the individuals being discussed in the news media to standards grounded in their social identities. The present study measures the disparity in the language used for an illness experienced by both men and women. Moreover, this research highlights the importance of including an intersectional approach in framing research.

Extent

68 pages

Local Identifiers

McDonaldThesis2018.pdf

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

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