Representations of vulnerability,innocence and evil in the murder of a disabled person |
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Authors: | Ian Mathews |
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Institution: | 1. University of Lincoln – School of Health &2. Social Care, Lincoln, UKimathews@lincoln.ac.uk |
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Abstract: | AbstractThis article uses the murder of a young man with learning disabilities as a case study to comment on the representations used in the reporting of crime against disabled people. It uses social representations theory as a theoretical lens to assist us to see that portrayals of both victim and perpetrators by the media and others serves to distance them from each other, and from mainstream society. It highlights how this process of ‘othering’ serves to disadvantage disabled people and places a disproportionate emphasis on individual characteristics. |
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Keywords: | Learning disability vulnerability innocence evil social representations theory crime |
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