Browsing by Author "Lehmonen, Sonja"

The purpose of this study is to point out ways of talking about immigrants in the Opettaja magazine. The point-of-view is educational. The theoretical framework is based on theories of power relationships, otherness and critical pedagogy. The research questions are: What kind of immigrant related discourses can be found in the articles of the Opettaja magazine? How is the immigrants' own voice heard in the material? The material of this study consists of writings of immigrants in the Opettaja magazine during the years 2015 and 2016. These articles helped get an understanding of immigrants as persons. 25 articles were chosen into the final analysis. Discourse analysis was used as the research method. The method enabled getting reach of ways of talking and what speech actually produces. As a result of the study and as an answer to the first research question five different discourses were found from the material: 1) Discourse that produces otherness 2) Benefit discourse 3) Challenge discourse 4) Inequality discourse 5) Humanity discourse. One discourse was found as an answer to the second research question. I named it A successful immigrant discourse. As a conclusion of the study I argue that ways of talking create otherness but it also reveals elements of humanity and sympathy. Equal treatment is desired but at the same time it's shown that lots of work must be done to reach it. This was exposed in the inequality discourse. Immigrants were seen beneficial for Finland and as a challenge for teachers. The own voice of the immigrants was particularly present in descriptions of successful immigrants. The Successful immigrant discourse was e.g. built on speech that emphasizes resilience and happiness. Bringing ways of talking used in the media and what is produced through it into day light, enables influencing inequality and otherness that stems from structures and social practices.