The Social Construction of Female Online Child Sexual Offenders in Canadian Newspapers from 2010 to 2017

Abstract

This thesis explores the social construction of female online child sex offenders within Canadian newspapers from 2010 to 2017. While child sexual exploitation is not a new phenomenon, the nature of this threat, in terms of the ways in which it is facilitated, has changed significantly over the past decade. Notably, a key factor contributing to the sexual exploitation of children in today’s society is the Internet. The anonymity afforded by the Internet, the accessibility to the Internet, and the lack of accountability associated with the Internet (Cooper, 1998) all work together to create a social environment that is conducive to child sexual exploitation. This research explores this new phenomenon, as perpetrated by women. Informed by the social constructionist approach, relevant findings from a review of literature on the media representation of female offenders are then compared to findings from the examination of Canadian newspaper articles pertaining to female online child sex offenders to recognize similarities and differences between respective representations in the media. The results of this work suggest an increase from 2010 to 2017 in the number of Canadian media articles about female online child sex offenders as well as an increase in teacher representation in those crimes. As a result, a progression in the social construction of child sex offenders as well as teachers in Canada is presented.