Stereotyping Murders

Murderers as well as murder victims have long been stereotyped by the news media. The packet we looked at in class showed two teenage girls first as innocent victims betrayed by fate. After some facts came out that showed them in a slightly less naive light, they were depicted as lesbian drug dealers that deserved death. Also, in the link posted in the class blog on 10/19, a reporter discussed her propensity to stereotype killers according to their victims. For example, a semi-wealthy real estate agent was found stabbed multiple times in a model home. Because of the extent of her injuries and glamorous reputation, the agent was speculated to have been killed by a jilted lover. In reality, she was brutally murdered by a common thief that wanted her jewelry.