(De)constructing “otherness”: the depiction of immigrant women in the Spanish press

Abstract

The construction of the “other”, be it an ethnic, cultural, religious or symbolic otherness, is a salient issue for the promotion of positive social harmony. This investigation sets out to examine the construction of otherness on a national level – within Spain – addressing the representation of female immigrants in the Spanish press. Within the field of Peace Research, it highlights the way in which the media (specifically the press, the focus of this investigation) constructs an image of female immigrants based on an otherness which is created principally by the interaction of factors of ethnicity and gender. It aims to make a contribution to existing research on the theme and contribute with up-to-date information. The principal challenges are to carry out an analysis based on gender and intercultural perspectives and to contribute to a re-conceptualisation and re-reading of the representations of female immigrants in Spanish society. The investigation aims to contribute to the efforts to transform negative stereotypes – in other words “deconstruct otherness” – and make visible that which remains excluded from media representations.