Framing the Victim: Domestic Violence Media and Social Problems

Framing the Victim is a must-read for anyone concerned about the politics and processes that shape how we understand and respond to social problems.It illustrates how victims of domestic violence are "framed" by the dominant media perspectives focused on them and falsely blamed for a crime committed by someone else. Berns insightfully critiques the stories that emerge when social problems are shaped by guidelines that promote entertainment, victim empowerment, drama, inspiration, and politics. She also offers recommendations on how to focus less on the victim and more on the abuser as well as the cultural and social context within which the violence is learned and tolerated.