From Pride to Lies: English-Language Print Media Coverage of Supreme Court of Canada Decisions on Women’s Defensive Violence

Abstract

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled on four cases of women’s defensive violence in the context of intimate partner violence. The Canadian news media plays a role in explaining the legal and social importance of these decisions. Its coverage can contribute to stronger social awareness of the problem and legal tools available or to the perpetuation of myths about intimate partner violence and the role of the courts. Examining local and national newspaper coverage of the four cases reveals a consistency in the amount of legal discussion and a decline in the quality of Canadian print news attention to these decisions. Implications for social awareness are discussed.