What does this research mean for the field?

Mainstream media in Italy and Belgium frame sex workers through dichotomies, portraying victims of trafficking as invisible and devoid of agency, while depicting digital creators and high-end escorts as visible subjects embodying neoliberal ideals of empowerment. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Examine how online news media construct and frame sex work across two European nations with differing legal approaches.

August 27, 2026Journal of Gender Studies

Victims or empowered entrepreneurs? Media constructions of sex workers in Italy and Belgium

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Authors

LTLaura Tedeschi FCFrancesca Comunello

Discussion

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Overview

Comparative media analysis reveals polarized depictions of sex workers as either agency-deprived victims or market-empowered entrepreneurs, highlighting how public discourse relies on stereotypes.

Key Points

Examine how online news media construct and frame sex work across two European nations with differing legal approaches.
Conducted a comparative analysis of headlines and visual images in Italian and Belgian online newspapers.
Applied a post-structuralist critical discourse framework to analyze textual and visual framing strategies.
Coverage of trafficking and femicide systematically relied on visual and textual anonymity, framing victims as ungrievable subjects devoid of personal agency.
Mainstream reporting on digital platform creators and high-end escorts emphasized market value and self-branding, promoting a neoliberal model of empowerment.

Cite This Study

Tedeschi et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8fe9b910c91c1e926219a5 https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2026.2720266

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August 27, 2026Journal of Gender Studies

Victims or empowered entrepreneurs? Media constructions of sex workers in Italy and Belgium

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

LTLaura Tedeschi FCFrancesca Comunello

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Comparative media analysis reveals polarized depictions of sex workers as either agency-deprived victims or market-empowered entrepreneurs, highlighting how public discourse relies on stereotypes.

Key Points

Examine how online news media construct and frame sex work across two European nations with differing legal approaches.
Conducted a comparative analysis of headlines and visual images in Italian and Belgian online newspapers.
Applied a post-structuralist critical discourse framework to analyze textual and visual framing strategies.
Coverage of trafficking and femicide systematically relied on visual and textual anonymity, framing victims as ungrievable subjects devoid of personal agency.
Mainstream reporting on digital platform creators and high-end escorts emphasized market value and self-branding, promoting a neoliberal model of empowerment.

Cite This Study

Tedeschi et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8fe9b910c91c1e926219a5 https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2026.2720266

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