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Rättighetsinnehavare eller snålskjutsåkare? En kritisk diskursanalys om konstruktioner av Legimusanvändare i svensk mediedebatt

Gabrielli, Elena LU (2026) ABMM54 20261
Division of ALM, Digital Cultures and Publishing Studies
Abstract
This thesis uses critical discourse analysis as both theory and method to examine how Legimus and its users are constructed in the Swedish public debate in the context of higher education. Drawing on critical disability studies and crip theory, the thesis aims to highlight the norms about ability and disability that these constructions legitimate and reproduce. The empirical material for this thesis includes 13 articles published from 2024 to 2026, covering the whole debate.

The results of the analysis show two hegemonic discourses: a medical control and misuse discourse, and a market discourse. These are opposed by a rights and accessibility discourse, with a reading discourse being almost entirely silenced. Three norms in relation to... (More)
This thesis uses critical discourse analysis as both theory and method to examine how Legimus and its users are constructed in the Swedish public debate in the context of higher education. Drawing on critical disability studies and crip theory, the thesis aims to highlight the norms about ability and disability that these constructions legitimate and reproduce. The empirical material for this thesis includes 13 articles published from 2024 to 2026, covering the whole debate.

The results of the analysis show two hegemonic discourses: a medical control and misuse discourse, and a market discourse. These are opposed by a rights and accessibility discourse, with a reading discourse being almost entirely silenced. Three norms in relation to which users of Legimus are constructed as Other can be identified in the debate. The first is the neoliberal norm of the productive and independent citizen and consumer, in opposition to which Legimus users are seen as a burden. The second is the norm of the well-meaning professional, contributing to the construction of Legimus users as passive recipients of benefits. The third is the norm of the “normal” reader, in contrast to Legimus users as anomalous readers.

The thesis is part of an ongoing discussion within library and information science about understanding accessible reading as a human right. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Gabrielli, Elena LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Rights holders or freeloaders? A critical discourse analysis about the constructions of Legimus users in the Swedish media debate
course
ABMM54 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Legimus, tillgänglig läsning, kritisk diskursanalys, critical disability studies, cripteori, normbrytande funktionalitet, högre utbildning, accessible reading, critical discourse analysis, crip theory, higher education
language
Swedish
id
9229895
date added to LUP
2026-07-06 09:18:55
date last changed
2026-07-06 09:18:55
@misc{9229895,
  abstract     = {{This thesis uses critical discourse analysis as both theory and method to examine how Legimus and its users are constructed in the Swedish public debate in the context of higher education. Drawing on critical disability studies and crip theory, the thesis aims to highlight the norms about ability and disability that these constructions legitimate and reproduce. The empirical material for this thesis includes 13 articles published from 2024 to 2026, covering the whole debate.

The results of the analysis show two hegemonic discourses: a medical control and misuse discourse, and a market discourse. These are opposed by a rights and accessibility discourse, with a reading discourse being almost entirely silenced. Three norms in relation to which users of Legimus are constructed as Other can be identified in the debate. The first is the neoliberal norm of the productive and independent citizen and consumer, in opposition to which Legimus users are seen as a burden. The second is the norm of the well-meaning professional, contributing to the construction of Legimus users as passive recipients of benefits. The third is the norm of the “normal” reader, in contrast to Legimus users as anomalous readers.

The thesis is part of an ongoing discussion within library and information science about understanding accessible reading as a human right.}},
  author       = {{Gabrielli, Elena}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Rättighetsinnehavare eller snålskjutsåkare? En kritisk diskursanalys om konstruktioner av Legimusanvändare i svensk mediedebatt}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}