Representation of sex workers in Malaysian news media: a critical discourse analysis
Marginalized populations such as sex workers are at constant risk of violence, abuse, and human rights violation due to inadequate laws governing their rights. Although media has an integral role in influencing the public’s perception of these vulnerable populations, it continues to reinforce soci...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
European Publisher
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.usm.my/28164/1/article_10036_11206_pdf_100.pdf http://eprints.usm.my/28164/ https://www.europeanproceedings.com/proceedings/EpSBS/volumes/ich2019 |
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| Institution: | Universiti Sains Malaysia |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | Marginalized populations such as sex workers are at constant risk of violence, abuse, and human rights
violation due to inadequate laws governing their rights. Although media has an integral role in influencing
the public’s perception of these vulnerable populations, it continues to reinforce social stigmas and
discrimination against sex workers through stereotypical and negative representation of the populations.
Drawing on Wodak’s discourse-historical approach (DHA), this paper is an outcome of a study that used
the DHA analytical tools to examine the discursive strategies specifically referential, predicational and
argumentative strategies employed in 20 articles relevant to sex workers in Malaysia published in The Star
Online between January and December 2012. Data analysis generally revealed that the local media
consistently polarised sex workers as offenders and as victims. These representations are justified and
legitimized through specific linguistic devices, fallacious arguments, metaphor, and several topoi, i.e., topoi
of number, blame, threat, and authority. Such representations create public intolerance towards sex workers
and consequently hinder the workers' access to health care, legal and social services. This paper concludes
by highlighting the contributions of the study and the need to incorporate the voices of people who work in
the industry to challenge the limited representations perpetuated by the media. |
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