Identity

Rayne Philip

Who Gets Protected and Who Gets Blamed? Intersectional Media Framing of Racialized Women in Public Crises

I am a Communication student at Toronto Metropolitan University with a strong interest in media representation, public relations, and intersectionality. My academic work focuses on how communication shapes public perception, particularly in relation to race and gender. For my capstone project, I examine how racialized women are framed in media and institutional crisis communication. Outside of academics, I am actively involved in coaching youth volleyball, where I emphasize leadership, teamwork, and confidence. I am passionate about promoting more equitable communication practices and using research to better understand how media narratives influence society.

This research project examines how racialized women are represented in media coverage and institutional crisis communication during public crises. Grounded in framing theory (Entman, 1993) and intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989), the study explores how narratives shape perceptions of credibility, responsibility, and protection.

Using qualitative discourse analysis, the project analyzes news articles, press releases, and official social media statements across selected Canadian case studies, including Indigenous women at Fairy Creek, Muslim women in coverage of Quebec’s Bill 21, Black women in policing-related incidents, and South Asian women in culturally framed reporting. The analysis focuses on patterns such as blame attribution, legitimacy framing, voice distribution, and stereotyping.

Findings reveal consistent patterns across cases. Racialized women are often framed through simplified roles such as victims, emotional figures, or exceptionally resilient individuals. Media coverage frequently emphasizes conflict, culture, or individual circumstances, while institutional actors are positioned as credible and authoritative. Additionally, there is a clear imbalance in voice, with institutional perspectives prioritized over those of affected women.

This research demonstrates that crisis communication is not neutral, but instead reflects and reinforces broader systems of power and inequality. By applying an intersectional lens, the project highlights the need for more equitable and responsible communication practices in both media and public relations contexts.

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