Antigypsyism as Symbolic and Epistemic Violence in Informative Journalism in Spain, 2010–2018

Abstract

This study conducts a framing analysis of how Spanish journalism represents “Gypsy identity” within the markers of dangerousness and criminality (in the period from 2010 to 2018). The paper aims to validate the following underpinning hypothesis: as symbolic and epistemic violence, antigypsyism legitimizes systemicracial discrimination and exclusion against Roma in Spain. The article is organized into five sections. First, an analytical framework introduces the notions of “antigypsyism,” “structural discrimination,” “social fear,” “symbolic violence,” “epistemic violence,” and “framing analysis.” Second, a case study is presented on a sample of 150 national news reports that portray Romani characters in a biased way. Third, this analysis informs an ethical and legal debate that challenges the limits of free speech and the uses of discriminatory and biased language in informative narratives. The fourth section examines and provides conclusions regarding thecorrelation between structural discrimination against Roma and the role of media in engendering the stigma of the “Gypsy threat.” Finally, the article includes a series of recommendations that could be used to counteract racism in news narratives.

“How can you kiss and touch this child and show affection towards her? What kind of woman are you?”: Provider perspectives on stigma towards native and ethnic minority street-connected youth in the Republic of Georgia

“…In their responses, we observed that providers invoked oftrepeated stereotypes about Roma communities, refugees, and immigrants, such as the belief that ethnic minority families have children solely to access financial resources [52], that ethnic minority youth are mentally, socially and developmentally inferior due to familial or cultural characteristics [52,56], or that ethnic minority youth engage in stigmatized sexual behaviors [52,55]. A number of scholars [52,55,77,78] have documented the processes through which media outlets, politicians, social service providers, and human rights organizations "discursively construct Roma childhoods as dangerous and devoid of the resources that lead to healthy adulthoods" [52]. While being connected to the street and/or living in a violent family both increase vulnerability to poor social and health outcomes-irrespective of ethnic group membership-numerous studies have documented the powerful roles of stigma, discrimination and social exclusion for Roma groups [53,56,57,58].…”

Hate Speech, Symbolic Violence, and Racial Discrimination. Antigypsyism: What Responses for the Next Decade?

“…As I have explained in previous studies (Cortés 2020b(Cortés , 2021, the social imaginary of (historically rooted) antigypsyist stereotypes nurtures racist narratives with three main effects for the Roma: damaging the reputation of an entire ethnic group; creating a fearbased public opinion; and ultimately legitimizing the social and economic gap they face. In this regard, as an MP, I have said in different forums that all socio-economic policies directed at Roma will prove fruitless if they are not backed up by a commitment to stop racism and its manifestations, including hate speech.…”