Fear Not Equally Distributed Criminal Justice 4

In the original paper Using Content Analysis Projects in The Introduction to Criminal Justice Classroom, in the abstract background the authors Finley (2004), emphasized:

Additionally, this fear is not equally distributed amongst the population. Students noted that, despite the evidence that most crimes are crimes against property, not persons, Kindergarten Cop, as well as most of the films analyzed, depicted a variety of aggravated assaults, attempted murders, and successful murders. Further, the media depicts certain groups as those that we should be fearful of while, whether purposefully or by omission, telling us who is not a threat. Cortes (2000:60) says, "To the degree that the media assert the normality of social hierarchies-be they racial, ethnic, gender, religious, sexual orientation, or other types-they serve to reinforce the legitimacy of those relationships."