Moral Panics and Social Reactions Guest Lecture Flashcards
What is the idea of a moral panic (Stanley Cohen)?
A disproportionate reaction of society to an event.
What did Stanley Cohen study in order to coin this term?
2 dominant youth subgroups in England during the 1960s. There were the mods (stylish, liked psychedelic rock, wore skinny ties and suits, rode scooters) and the rockers (tough kids, leather, greased hair, motorcycles). Two groups often had small fights.
What happened between the mods and the rockers in 1964?
Small fight turned into a full out brawl and they targeted those who tried to run. Media then published warning articles, calling them vermin, terrorizors, wild terrors etc.
What are the 5 elements of a moral panic?
1) condition/episode/person defined as a threat
2) Moral crusaders
3) Incident presented in a stylized way
4) Folk devils
5) Media coverage of incident exaggerated.
What are moral crusaders?
Managers of moral barricades-policy makers for legal change, police chiefs etc trying to make a societal change in relation to this specific event.
What are folk devils?
Deviants or outsiders that are pegged as being a problem- often the targets of moral panics. Complaints of the public are pinned onto these individuals.
What role does the media play in moral panics?
An ideological role- attributes exaggerated attention onto an issue causing social anxieties. Media sources are people in power, and dominant ideologies are upheld.
Is the goal of mass media to cause panic, according to Cohen?
No. The very reporting of facts can cause a panic-leading to state power.
What do most trafficking cases in Canada often involve?
Individuals rather than organized crimes, domestic rather than international trafficking, 3rd party must be exploiting the victim in some way.
What was the case of R. v Greenham?
Young man was charged with trafficking when his girlfriend who was a sex worker introduced him to her friend who wanted to join the sex trade. Greenham managed their work. The complainant then grew tired of the lifestyle and decided to leave, and then he was charged (even though the complainant said she was never forced to do anything).
What does a human trafficking charge require?
Force or coercion.
Who is the ideal victim?
Naive and desperate, innocent, not a willing sex worker, the typical girl next door.
Which types of girls are put into particular focus when looking at the moral panic of trafficking?
Underage girs and runaways who are usualy white and come from conventional middle class backgrounds- idea that this child is lost and that this could happen to YOUR child too
How does the idea of violence play into moral panics?
Inflammatory constructions of violence and brutality against the innocent and vulnerable heightens the panic.
How does the amount of money we have invested into trafficking play into the moral panic?
Tells us that the issue must be serious and widespread.
