Det stigmatiserande utanförskapet: En kritisk diskursanalys om svensk medias makt och framställning av utsatta områden

Abstract

The term ‘vulnerable areas’ is developed by the Swedish police, referring to various areas in Sweden that are classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged, and with an active criminal presence. Over time, this term has gained significant popularity and is now used not only by the police but also by other entities such as the media, where these areas are often depicted as urban outcasts. Therefore, this study focuses on the portrayal of ‘vulnerable areas’ in the Swedish news media, where the topic has been widely debated in recent years. The study used a critical discourse analysis as its method and drew upon social constructivism, discourse theory, and theories of stigmatization as its theoretical framework. A total of twelve articles were selected and analyzed from the four leading newspapers in Sweden; Aftonbladet, Expressen, Svenska Dagbladet and Dagens Nyheter. The results of the critical discourse analysis revealed that the media tends to present socioeconomically deprived areas in a negative light. These areas are often associated with various societal problems such as crime, low-quality education, and academic challenges. Additionally, they are portrayed as outcasts and segregated from the rest of society. The three main discourses found were named the discourse on criminality and war; the discourse on educational weakness as well as; the discourse on exclusion. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that this portrayal leads to territorial stigmatization and the perpetuation of social structures that discriminate against and stigmatize certain areas of the country.