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Media coverage of the Zika crisis in Brazil: The construction of a ‘war’ frame that masked social and gender inequalities

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  • Ribeiro, Barbara
  • Hartley, Sarah
  • Nerlich, Brigitte
  • Jaspal, Rusi

Abstract

Between 2015 and 2016, Zika became an epidemic of global concern and the focus of intense media coverage. Using a hybrid model of frame and social representations theory, we examine how the Zika outbreak was reported in two major newspapers in Brazil: O Globo and Folha de São Paulo. The analysis of 186 articles published between December 2015 and May 2016 reveals a dominant ‘war’ frame supported by two sub-frames: one focused on eradicating the vector (mosquito) and another on controlling microcephaly, placing the burden of prevention on women. Scientific uncertainties about the virus and its relationship to microcephaly coupled with political uncertainties in Brazil increased the power of the war frame. This frame gave prominence and legitimacy to certain representations of disease management during the crisis, masking social and gender inequalities. We show how the cartography of the disease overlaps with that of poverty and regional inequality in Brazil to argue that addressing socio-economic aspects is essential, but normally neglected, in media communications during disease outbreaks like Zika.

Suggested Citation

  • Ribeiro, Barbara & Hartley, Sarah & Nerlich, Brigitte & Jaspal, Rusi, 2018. "Media coverage of the Zika crisis in Brazil: The construction of a ‘war’ frame that masked social and gender inequalities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 137-144.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:200:y:2018:i:c:p:137-144
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.01.023
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    1. Chang, Yu-Che & Nkambule, Nothando S. & Xiao, Xaviera & Ngerng, Roy Y.L. & Monrouxe, Lynn V., 2021. "Safety net, gateway, market, sport, and war: Exploring how emergency physicians conceptualize and ascribe meaning to emergency care," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    2. Rangel, Marcos & Nobles, Jenna & Hamoudi, Amar, 2019. "Brazil's Missing Infants: Zika Risk Changes Reproductive Behavior," SocArXiv fu8bp, Center for Open Science.
    3. Van Dooren, Wouter & Noordegraaf, Mirko, 2020. "Staging Science: Authoritativeness and Fragility of Models and Measurement in the COVID-19 Crisis," SocArXiv nfm5j, Center for Open Science.
    4. Wenham, Clare & Abagaro, Camila & Arévalo, Amaral & Coast, Ernestina & Corrêa, Sonia & Cuéllar, Katherine & Leone, Tiziana & Valongueiro, Sandra, 2021. "Analysing the intersection between health emergencies and abortion during Zika in Brazil, El Salvador and Colombia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    5. Bekhzod EGAMBERDIEV, 2021. "Household Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic From A Development Economics Perspective - A Review," Regional Science Inquiry, Hellenic Association of Regional Scientists, vol. 0(1), pages 15-30, June.
    6. Kelly, Ann H. & Lezaun, Javier & Löwy, Ilana & Matta, Gustavo Corrêa & de Oliveira Nogueira, Carolina & Rabello, Elaine Teixeira, 2020. "Uncertainty in times of medical emergency: Knowledge gaps and structural ignorance during the Brazilian Zika crisis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).

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