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'Too few of us', again? The Fertility Discourse in Finnish Media in 2019

Lounela, Mimmi Aurora LU (2020) SOCK04 20201
Department of Sociology
Sociology
Abstract
This qualitative study examines the dominant fertility discourse in Finnish media in 2019, when the total fertility rate dropped to an all-time low level, spurring media debate and political attention. The study analyses the representations and framings of fertility, and the underlying norms, assumptions, power-structures and silences in the dominant discourse using discourse analytical tools, more specifically the ‘What is the problem represented to be?’- approach. Data have been generated from the leading newspaper in Finland, as well as the online news site of the Finnish public service broadcasting company. The study found that, despite its plurality, the Finnish fertility discourse is dominantly pronatalist, representing the increase... (More)
This qualitative study examines the dominant fertility discourse in Finnish media in 2019, when the total fertility rate dropped to an all-time low level, spurring media debate and political attention. The study analyses the representations and framings of fertility, and the underlying norms, assumptions, power-structures and silences in the dominant discourse using discourse analytical tools, more specifically the ‘What is the problem represented to be?’- approach. Data have been generated from the leading newspaper in Finland, as well as the online news site of the Finnish public service broadcasting company. The study found that, despite its plurality, the Finnish fertility discourse is dominantly pronatalist, representing the increase of fertility as a necessity for the national economy, using the rhetoric of concern and fear to support this depiction. A nationalistic concern about the future of the Finnish nation persists, too - fertility is understood as a public matter, a question of the nation. Furthermore, the discourse is predominantly gendered - women are seen to be responsible for reproduction. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Lounela, Mimmi Aurora LU
supervisor
organization
course
SOCK04 20201
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
fertility, gender, nationalism, pronatalism, discourse
language
English
id
9021053
date added to LUP
2020-06-22 14:01:27
date last changed
2020-06-22 14:01:27
@misc{9021053,
  abstract     = {{This qualitative study examines the dominant fertility discourse in Finnish media in 2019, when the total fertility rate dropped to an all-time low level, spurring media debate and political attention. The study analyses the representations and framings of fertility, and the underlying norms, assumptions, power-structures and silences in the dominant discourse using discourse analytical tools, more specifically the ‘What is the problem represented to be?’- approach. Data have been generated from the leading newspaper in Finland, as well as the online news site of the Finnish public service broadcasting company. The study found that, despite its plurality, the Finnish fertility discourse is dominantly pronatalist, representing the increase of fertility as a necessity for the national economy, using the rhetoric of concern and fear to support this depiction. A nationalistic concern about the future of the Finnish nation persists, too - fertility is understood as a public matter, a question of the nation. Furthermore, the discourse is predominantly gendered - women are seen to be responsible for reproduction.}},
  author       = {{Lounela, Mimmi Aurora}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{'Too few of us', again? The Fertility Discourse in Finnish Media in 2019}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}