‘They Actually do Get More Money’: Using Myths in Justifying Hierarchies in Ethnic Relations
This article analyses myths as a societal and discursive mechanism for maintaining and reproducing hierarchical ethnic relations. Theoretically, we rely on Paulo Freire and discursive social psychology (DSP) in conceptualising myths as false perceptions that act as counterforces to a critically info...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Helsinki University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Nordic Journal of Migration Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://account.journal-njmr.org/index.php/uh-j-njmr/article/view/600 |
| _version_ | 1797315811453435904 |
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| author | Sanna Ryynänen Emma Nortio Sirkku Varjonen |
| author_facet | Sanna Ryynänen Emma Nortio Sirkku Varjonen |
| author_sort | Sanna Ryynänen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article analyses myths as a societal and discursive mechanism for maintaining and reproducing hierarchical ethnic relations. Theoretically, we rely on Paulo Freire and discursive social psychology (DSP) in conceptualising myths as false perceptions that act as counterforces to a critically informed understanding of reality and end up discursively reproducing the societal status quo with its unequal power relations. The data was produced as part of an artistic-scientific process between 2017 and 2019, which consisted of migration-themed events relying on participatory theatre. The events took place mainly in suburban bars but also in libraries and nursing homes around Finland. In our analysis, we identify three myths regarding ethnic relations: a myth of immigrants as profoundly different from majority Finns, a myth that discrimination or racism is a minor problem, and a myth of privileged immigrants. We also exemplify how myths are employed, co-constructed and actively used in producing versions of reality and for opposing equality measures and the politics of anti-racism. We argue that conceptualising a certain type of account as myth and combining Freirean theorisations with DSP to analyse them, adds to understanding of the ways in which social hierarchies and power relations are constructed, maintained and reproduced. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:09:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-be4bf4194a664d03b712c201a5380cd2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1799-649X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:09:15Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Helsinki University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nordic Journal of Migration Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-be4bf4194a664d03b712c201a5380cd22024-02-13T07:42:30ZengHelsinki University PressNordic Journal of Migration Research1799-649X2024-01-011413310.33134/njmr.60085‘They Actually do Get More Money’: Using Myths in Justifying Hierarchies in Ethnic RelationsSanna Ryynänen0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8918-8203Emma Nortio1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3102-5537Sirkku Varjonen2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7535-651XUniversity of Eastern FinlandUniversity of Eastern FinlandKuntoutussäätiöThis article analyses myths as a societal and discursive mechanism for maintaining and reproducing hierarchical ethnic relations. Theoretically, we rely on Paulo Freire and discursive social psychology (DSP) in conceptualising myths as false perceptions that act as counterforces to a critically informed understanding of reality and end up discursively reproducing the societal status quo with its unequal power relations. The data was produced as part of an artistic-scientific process between 2017 and 2019, which consisted of migration-themed events relying on participatory theatre. The events took place mainly in suburban bars but also in libraries and nursing homes around Finland. In our analysis, we identify three myths regarding ethnic relations: a myth of immigrants as profoundly different from majority Finns, a myth that discrimination or racism is a minor problem, and a myth of privileged immigrants. We also exemplify how myths are employed, co-constructed and actively used in producing versions of reality and for opposing equality measures and the politics of anti-racism. We argue that conceptualising a certain type of account as myth and combining Freirean theorisations with DSP to analyse them, adds to understanding of the ways in which social hierarchies and power relations are constructed, maintained and reproduced.https://account.journal-njmr.org/index.php/uh-j-njmr/article/view/600social mythracismdiscriminationpaulo freirediscursive social psychology (dsp)arts-based research |
| spellingShingle | Sanna Ryynänen Emma Nortio Sirkku Varjonen ‘They Actually do Get More Money’: Using Myths in Justifying Hierarchies in Ethnic Relations Nordic Journal of Migration Research social myth racism discrimination paulo freire discursive social psychology (dsp) arts-based research |
| title | ‘They Actually do Get More Money’: Using Myths in Justifying Hierarchies in Ethnic Relations |
| title_full | ‘They Actually do Get More Money’: Using Myths in Justifying Hierarchies in Ethnic Relations |
| title_fullStr | ‘They Actually do Get More Money’: Using Myths in Justifying Hierarchies in Ethnic Relations |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘They Actually do Get More Money’: Using Myths in Justifying Hierarchies in Ethnic Relations |
| title_short | ‘They Actually do Get More Money’: Using Myths in Justifying Hierarchies in Ethnic Relations |
| title_sort | they actually do get more money using myths in justifying hierarchies in ethnic relations |
| topic | social myth racism discrimination paulo freire discursive social psychology (dsp) arts-based research |
| url | https://account.journal-njmr.org/index.php/uh-j-njmr/article/view/600 |
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