Analysis of media frames in femicide : an action research of print and broadcast media in Lesotho

Abstract

Women abuse by in Lesotho is pervasive and it is normalised and sanctioned by culture. The status of women in Lesotho has forages been that of a perpetual minor where their participation and representation were not a mater of contention nor a prerequisite in any social discourse. The laws of Lerotholi that uphold marital powers were overtaken by events from 2006 when the Equality of Married Person's Act 2006 (abolished marital power) and the Land Act 2010 (women to hold tenure) were passed. Logical expectation would be that gender-based violence and femicide will tremendously decline but violence and femicide are still ongoing. Media is a strategic ally but sadly, in Lesotho, the media is an auto-pilot due to a lack of key legislative frameworks such as the Media Policy and Media Act. The purpose of this study is to examine media frames of intimate partner femicide. The research was qualitative and it had an action research design with the aim of improving media capacity on framing intimate partner femicide.