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Ukrainian Refugee Women as The Subject of Images and Discourses in Swedish and Ukrainian Media

Perekrest, Alina LU (2023) SIMZ21 20231
Graduate School
Abstract
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, resulted in a substantial displacement of people, most of whom were Ukrainian women and children. Given the vast number of Ukrainian refugees who have fled to other countries, the aim was to examine how the news media portrays their images and experiences. This master's thesis focuses on identifying representations of Ukrainian refugees in Swedish and Ukrainian online news media using discourse and visual analysis. The study is based on the constructivist theoretical framework (Pierre Bourdieu's approach) as well as Kimberle Crenshaw's conception of intersectionality.
Popular Abstract
The Russian invasion of Ukraine had a significant influence on Ukrainian society. Many Ukrainian women fled the country for temporary protection and the means to sustain their families, resulting in massive displacement inside and outside the country. The experience of Ukrainian refugee women is frequently reported and presented in the media. Media analysis, focused on Swedish and Ukrainian news media, was used to understand public views regarding Ukrainian refugees better.
Critical discourse analysis and visual analysis techniques were employed to investigate how the media presents a social group and its associated traits. The study combined intersectionality theory and Bourdieu's theory of capital forms assisted in determining the... (More)
The Russian invasion of Ukraine had a significant influence on Ukrainian society. Many Ukrainian women fled the country for temporary protection and the means to sustain their families, resulting in massive displacement inside and outside the country. The experience of Ukrainian refugee women is frequently reported and presented in the media. Media analysis, focused on Swedish and Ukrainian news media, was used to understand public views regarding Ukrainian refugees better.
Critical discourse analysis and visual analysis techniques were employed to investigate how the media presents a social group and its associated traits. The study combined intersectionality theory and Bourdieu's theory of capital forms assisted in determining the construction of the image of Ukrainian refugees and their portrayal in the mass media, considering the intersecting factors that affect their experience and perception in society. The thesis seeks to define, evaluate, and compare how refugee women are depicted in Ukrainian and Swedish news outlets.
This thesis was separated into several parts. In the first section, I review the scientific literature on the subject. The second section is a discussion of the methods I employ. It also includes sections on data preparation for my study and the ethical factors I consider while researching. The third section contains a theoretical framework and the key concepts. The next part contains my analysis, separated into findings and interpretation. The conclusion is the final chapter.
According to the findings, Ukrainian refugee women are typically portrayed in Swedish media as young or middle-aged mothers who were forced to leave their partners in Ukraine for the protection of their children. They experience sexism, abuse, and stress disorders; many were witnesses or victims of Russian war crimes. Ukrainian women are portrayed in Swedish media as inactive group needing help and assistance. The most typical representation of a Ukrainian refugee in Ukrainian media is of a young or middle-aged single mother who leaves her family, suffers emotional hardship, and seeks employment abroad to support herself and her children. She might also be the victim of tragic events or criminal crimes. Future studies might explore how media portrayals of refugees have changed through time. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Perekrest, Alina LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMZ21 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Discourse analysis, refugees, media image, media representations, news media.
language
English
id
9123893
date added to LUP
2023-06-21 14:45:21
date last changed
2023-06-21 14:45:21
@misc{9123893,
  abstract     = {{Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, resulted in a substantial displacement of people, most of whom were Ukrainian women and children. Given the vast number of Ukrainian refugees who have fled to other countries, the aim was to examine how the news media portrays their images and experiences. This master's thesis focuses on identifying representations of Ukrainian refugees in Swedish and Ukrainian online news media using discourse and visual analysis. The study is based on the constructivist theoretical framework (Pierre Bourdieu's approach) as well as Kimberle Crenshaw's conception of intersectionality.}},
  author       = {{Perekrest, Alina}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Ukrainian Refugee Women as The Subject of Images and Discourses in Swedish and Ukrainian Media}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}