The Media Portrayal of the Phenomenon of Begging and Its Social Construction in Dhi Qar Governorate from the Perspective of Experts and Specialists

Abstract

The research aimed to identify the factors leading to the crime of begging and its effects on the society of Dhi Qar. Using a qualitative methodology, represented by in-depth interviews and expert consensus, the research focused on two known communities: the community of male beggars and the community of female beggars. The research results showed that the commission of the crime of begging is rooted in repeated monetary poverty and its effects on family living standards and the local community. These effects include frequent negative emotions causing mental health issues, fear of legal prosecution and its consequences such as losing the family's main source of income, separation from children, exposure to spousal violence, and a lack of fear from the local community, as most of its members belong to the poor class who encourage begging, practice it, and rely on its monetary returns in their lives.