Browsing by Author "Rebwar, Ala"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

Framställandet av psykisk ohälsa hos ungdomar - En diskursanalys av svensk press
(2021-06-29) Rebwar, Ala; University of Gothenburg/Department of Social Work; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för socialt arbete
The purpose of this research is to explore representations of youth mental illness by analysing articles in Swedish newspapers. Mass media has a central role in depicting social problems and shaping public discourse on health. It affects the way we understand and manage our social reality. The theoretical framework used for approaching the purpose of this study and analysing the material involves a combination of a social constructionist perspective, critical discourse analysis and concepts regarding the construction of social problems and individualisation in (late) modern society. The material is based on 51 articles from four large Swedish news papers. Four themes appeared as the results were analysed: ”An epidemic”; ”A narrow cultural frame”; ”A health discourse” and ”A harsh reality”. The results show that social problems are constructed mainly through the views of scientists and professionals and through references to large studies and established institutions and organisations. There is great variation in how mental illness is represented, what causes and what solutions are suggested. Whether it is an ”epidemic”, with uncertain causes, or a ”normal” reaction to ”normal” feelings which are sometimes exaggerated and sometimes enhanced by a ”narrow cultural frame”. There is a division between youth with ”real” issues with mental illness and ones with less serious problems who do not need to seek professional help. This creates an illusion of the two groups being in opposition to one-another. Youth mental illness is also portrayed through different forms of addiction, such as drug addiction and “social media addiction”. These discourses tend use dichotomies (”good”/”bad”), reproduce reductionistic views by suggesting solutions including stricter regulations and subjecting them to moral values. Health and the lack of exercise, along with the over-use of social media, is presented as a broad issue but the solutions are individualised. My hope is that the results of this study to rise critical language awareness by shedding light on the social structures behind discourses and representations in the media and use this as a tool for affected individuals and professionals to help counteract feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness.
KONSTRUKTIONEN AV ETNICITET - En kvalitativ studie om hur lärare och studerande upplever etnicitetsperspektivet på socionomprogrammet vid Göteborgs universitet
(2008-10-09T11:52:16Z) Rebwar, Ala; Rhedin, Christina; Salehi, Omid; Göteborg University/Department of Social Work; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för socialt arbete
The primary purpose of this essay is to study and describe how the concept of “ethnicity” is introduced, defined and constructed at the Universities of Social Work Education through the perspectives of students attending and teachers/researchers currently employed at the University of Gothenburg. Also, this study attempts to describe what differences there are between the two groups and how these are expressed. The theoretical perspectives which we have used to analyse the empirical data are social constructivism and postcolonial theories. We have applied a qualitative method based on four interviews with teachers/researchers and two focus group interviews with 14 students. Themes and subthemes covering different parts of the results have been constructed in order to present the material in a manageable matter. The results show that the ethnicity perspective and questions surrounding the subject are perceived as sensitive and elusive. The concept of ethnicity in it self seems to be perceived by both parts as difficult to define and vague. Teachers find the ethnicity perspective difficult to integrate into their own material. Students feel that they are left with unprocessed perceptions and opinions and that this can result in re-establishing and reproducing prejudice. Also, they find contemporary course literature to be on a much too basic level and sometimes containing of non-scientific and biased information. According to most teachers and students, honour related issues are taught out and described in a limited manner. There are, however, obvious differences in how they would like the subject to be approached. Some teachers and students believe that the issues should be looked upon and analysed on the basis of culture, religion and tradition while the majority of the participants perceive it as a phenomenon related to the patriarchal order that prevails in all societies, regardless of religion and ethnic belonging. Students and teachers believe that the motives behind practical class exercises related to these issues are well-intentioned and relevant. Some participants, however, would like more clarity regarding instructions and purpose in order to prevent misunderstandings and unpleasant situations. The majority of students and teachers would like a more integrated and theoretically based ethnicity perspective throughout the education with more advanced and international literature. However, there are differences both between and amongst the different groups concerning which theories and to what extend they want them to be emphasized. Overall, a stronger emphasis on critical thinking, i.e. postcolonial theories as an alternative to traditional culture-orientated approaches, is preferred and students would like for empowerment orientated theories to be more apparent and manifested into the theoretical and practical education concerning fieldwork with clients from ethnic minority groups.