A Feminist Re-Reading of U.S. Media Depictions of Women Murderers

Includes bibliographical references (pages 82-89).This study critiques how U.S.-based media portray women murderers and how their crimes were linked to caring labor roles and femininity. To accomplish this critique, I examined 52 online news articles that reported on the following three cases: Case A: Michele Kalina (n=15), a mother who killed her five children; Case B: Kimberly Saenz (n=19), a nurse who murdered five of her patients; and Case C: Amanda Logue (n=18), a sex worker who murdered one of her clients. A feminist discourse analysis was conducted using 21 variables that focused on the women's appearance, behavior, and sexuality as well as the components contributing to the murder. The frequency of each variable was determined through a close read of each article. Results indicate media represent women murderers as caring laborers in all of the articles; this included discussing Kalina as a mother, Saenz as a nurse, and Logue as a sex worker/prostitute. The women's sexuality (sexual behavior, love triangles, or affairs) was also emphasized in 15 (100.0%) articles for Kalina, 18 (100.0%) articles for Logue, yet 0 (0.0%) for Saenz. The women were frequently described as mothers; in 15 cases (100.0%) for Kalina, 8 (42.1%) for Saenz, and 5 (27.8%) for Logue. Furthermore, descriptions of the women's mental health (depression, addiction, schizophrenia, etc.) appeared in 10 (66.7%) of the articles for Kalina, 9(47.4%) for Saenz, and 0 (0.0%) for Logue. Absent from the articles was the mention of the women's race; however, it was assumed that all three women were white. Their socioeconomic status and level of education were rarely described in the articles, although it was evident that the women were educated and employed. This research argues that media reinforce hegemonic notions of gender by "objectively" depicting women murderers as feminine, sexual, nurturing, and caring. In doing so, media were able to establish that women who commit murder adhere to feminine gender roles. Therefore, femininity must be a "natural" part of a woman's identity. Media reports provide a partial and subjective view of women murderers, one that relies on sexist, racist, classist, and ageist ideologies that harm marginalized groups. This research encourages society to consume media critically and demonstrates the strong influence media have on societal perceptions about women criminals who contest hegemonic notions of gender