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Textual Analysis of the Portrayals of the Roma in a U.S. Newspaper

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Date Issued:
2013
Abstract/Description:
This study examined the media portrayals of Roma in the United States by taking a closer look at (")Gypsy crime(") articles in a purposive sample of newspaper articles. These newspaper articles give details of (")confidence(") crimes and name the alleged perpetrators as Roma or members of the ethnic minority group commonly known as Gypsies. A textual analysis was conducted of 23 articles appearing in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel from August 16, 2011 to February 8, 2013 covering fraud charges against several members of the Marks family. This primary evaluation narrowed the initial sample to nine articles that contained references to Roma, Romani, or Gypsy. Further analysis of these nine articles revealed four major categories of findings regarding the representation of the ethnic minority. The categories included: 1) the pairing of the preferred term, Roma with the pejorative term, Gypsy; 2) reinforcement of stereotypes; 3) portrayal of the ethnic group as foreign others; and 4) Roma portrayed as a threat to the dominant culture and its members. The theoretical bases for the study included Social Stigma Theory (Goffman, 1963) and Orientalism (Said, 1978) both of which offer a critical lens through which to examine the portrayals of this ethnic minority.
Title: Textual Analysis of the Portrayals of the Roma in a U.S. Newspaper.
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Name(s): Deaton, Sabrina, Author
Akita, Kimiko, Committee Chair
Davis, Kristin, Committee Member
Santana, Maria, Committee Member
, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2013
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: This study examined the media portrayals of Roma in the United States by taking a closer look at (")Gypsy crime(") articles in a purposive sample of newspaper articles. These newspaper articles give details of (")confidence(") crimes and name the alleged perpetrators as Roma or members of the ethnic minority group commonly known as Gypsies. A textual analysis was conducted of 23 articles appearing in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel from August 16, 2011 to February 8, 2013 covering fraud charges against several members of the Marks family. This primary evaluation narrowed the initial sample to nine articles that contained references to Roma, Romani, or Gypsy. Further analysis of these nine articles revealed four major categories of findings regarding the representation of the ethnic minority. The categories included: 1) the pairing of the preferred term, Roma with the pejorative term, Gypsy; 2) reinforcement of stereotypes; 3) portrayal of the ethnic group as foreign others; and 4) Roma portrayed as a threat to the dominant culture and its members. The theoretical bases for the study included Social Stigma Theory (Goffman, 1963) and Orientalism (Said, 1978) both of which offer a critical lens through which to examine the portrayals of this ethnic minority.
Identifier: CFE0004670 (IID), ucf:49873 (fedora)
Note(s): 2013-05-01
M.A.
Sciences, Communication
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Roma -- Gypsy -- Social Stigma Theory -- Orientalism -- Textual Analysis
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004670
Restrictions on Access: public 2013-05-15
Host Institution: UCF

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