The stigmatization of Roma in the media discourse

The article explores the phenomenon of stigmatization in the context of Roma, the representation of interethnic prejudice and hostility in the media. It is established that stigma is formed due to the detection of deviant behavior in the model of generally accepted social norms.

The most vulnerable to stigma is the Roma ethnic group. Roma are linked to the news stories of a criminal nature. Often, only one person acts on the entire ethnic group. However, some media articulate the problem of prejudice against Roma, which is a positive shift in the information space towards solving the problem. There is also a substitution of the Gypsy exonym for the neutral ethnonym Roma in the media texts.

 As a result, we see that high-quality media are increasingly paying attention to the specifics of stigmatization of vulnerable populations. The media are trying to convey to the public the importance of a tolerant attitude, as well as to reveal the complex problems that Roma in Ukraine have to face. The topic of stigmatization of Roma has been poorly understood.

The article can help to explore the stigmatization of the ethnic minorities.