‘They Actually do Get More Money’: Using Myths in Justifying Hierarchies in Ethnic Relations

• DOI: 10.33134/njmr.600
• Publication Date: 2024-01-23T12:12:46Z
• Authors: Sanna Ryynänen; Emma Nortio; Sirkku Varjonen
• Keywords: arts-based research; Paulo Freire; 05 social sciences; discursive social psychology (dsp); Communities. Classes. Races; social myth; HT51-1595; paulo freire; JV1-9480; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; discursive social psychology (DSP); Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration; racism; discrimination

This article analyses myths as a societal and discursive mechanism for maintaining reproducing hierarchical ethnic relations.Theoretically, we rely on Paulo Freire social psychology (DSP) in conceptualising false perceptions that act counterforces to critically informed understanding of reality end up discursively the status quo with its unequal power relations.The data was produced part an artistic-scientific process between 2017 2019, which consisted migration-themed events relying participatory theatre.The took place mainly suburban bars but also libraries nursing homes around Finland.In our analysis, identify three regarding relations: myth immigrants profoundly different from majority Finns, discrimination or racism is minor problem, privileged immigrants.We exemplify how are employed, co-constructed actively used producing versions opposing equality measures politics anti-racism.We argue certain type account combining Freirean theorisations DSP analyse them, adds ways hierarchies relations constructed, maintained reproduced.