“…Furthermore, the portrayal of refugees as victims is a very dominant media frame in prior studies (Chouliaraki & Zaborowski, 2017; Greussing & Boomgaarden, 2017; Heidenreich et al, 2019; Van Gorp, 2005), but victimization representation prevents refugees from being seen as full-fledged individuals and implies that their legitimacy can only be recognized with proof of suffering, which in turn leads to refugees feeling inferior, and it becomes difficult for refugees to show their capabilities and resilience (Smets et al, 2019). The stereotypes embedded in this victim presentation influence social representations and practices (Machillot, 2012), as this study shows it connects to anti-immigrant sentiment. Thus, more realistic media representations are needed to portray refugees as legitimate and dignified individuals.…”