Full metadata record
DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributorDepartment of Applied Social Sciencesen_US
dc.contributor.advisorChan, Yuk-chung (APSS)en_US
dc.contributor.advisorSiu, Yu-kwan Kaxtion (APSS)en_US
dc.creatorLi, Jun-
dc.identifier.urihttps://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/10760-
dc.languageEnglishen_US
dc.publisherHong Kong Polytechnic Universityen_US
dc.rightsAll rights reserveden_US
dc.titleMedia and professional discourses on child maltreatment: implications for child protection in mainland Chinaen_US
dcterms.abstractThe main research question asked in this study was: how is the problem of child maltreatment understood and constructed by stakeholders at the local level in China? The data collection was divided into two phases. In the first phase, the dominant and competing discourses on the problem of child maltreatment in the media were explored in mainland China. The objectives in the first phase were: (1) Explore trends in discussion of child maltreatment in the media; (2) Identify dominant and competing discourses and explore how the problem of child maltreatment is framed in mainstream newspapers. (3) Identify the dominant discourses of professionals in the media. In the second phase, the perceptions of professionals of media discourses, the concept of childhood, and the problem of child maltreatment were examined. The objectives in the second phase were: (1) Explore the perceptions of professionals of childhood and the problem of child maltreatment; (2) Examine the views of professionals on dominant and competing discourses and salient cases in the media. This study used theoretical sampling and snowball sampling to recruit participants, including 6 social workers, 5 doctors, 3 judges, 2 police officers, and 2 lawyers. This study used discourse analysis as a data analysis method. The various findings of this study are the following: (1) There are individualisation, medicalisation, and legalisation of child abuse in mainland China; (2) There are interaction and conflict between traditional Chinese culture and foreign experience in the discourses of childhood and child maltreatment; and (3) The children's voices are absent in media and professional discourses. The first two findings reflect the influence of Western culture and thought on the problem of child maltreatment in mainland China. Regarding the individualisation and medicalisation of child abuse, child abuse was originally defined as the battered child syndrome, a medical problem. The medicalisation of child abuse was illustrated by media analysis and the perceptions of child abuse. Regarding the legalization of child abuse, the results reflect that solving the problem of child abuse using the law has become a dominant discourse of child abuse, with a significant influence on the media and the perceptions of professionals. Thirdly, although traditional Chinese culture is a dominant discourse, foreign experience affects traditional Chinese culture. The last important finding is the absence of children's voices in the news reports and the interviews. In the news reports, the stakeholders interviewed by the journalists were professionals, who did not mention children's voices. Similarly, the interviewees rarely mentioned children's thoughts and needs. Based on these findings, this study discussed: (1) How individualism and familism influenced the perceptions of child abuse in China; (2) How globalization and modernisation influenced the perceptions of child abuse in China; (3) The importance of regarding children as agents; (4) The importance of protecting children's rights. Based on the findings and discussion, this study proposed the following recommendations. First, promoting child protection legislation. Second, prohibiting physical abuse. Third, adopting systematic solutions to the problem of child abuse. Forth, protecting children's rights.en_US
dcterms.extentvi, 205 pages : color illustrationsen_US
dcterms.isPartOfPolyU Electronic Thesesen_US
dcterms.issued2020en_US
dcterms.educationalLevelPh.D.en_US
dcterms.educationalLevelAll Doctorateen_US
dcterms.LCSHChild abuse -- Chinaen_US
dcterms.LCSHChild abuse -- China -- Preventionen_US
dcterms.LCSHMedia -- Psychological aspectsen_US
dcterms.LCSHHong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertationsen_US
dcterms.accessRightsopen accessen_US

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
5156.pdfFor All Users2.24 MBAdobe PDFView/Open


Copyright Undertaking

As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:

  1. I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
  2. I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
  3. I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.

By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.

Show simple item record

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/10760