Calling people fleeing their homes refugees instead of migrants is not enough
Calling people fleeing their homes refugees instead of migrants is not enough
- September 30, 2015
- Kelsey Norman, political science graduate student, explains in Muftah
In recent weeks, there has been much discussion about distinguishing between migrants
and refugees. Images of thousands of people fleeing their homes, some dying in the
process, have made the debate over terminology more prominent than ever before. Last
month, Al Jazeera said it would no longer use the word migrant, a word that it described
as stripping “suffering people of voice.” Many are calling on other media organizations
to make a similar change.
While highlighting the dire conditions facing those seeking safety outside their home
countries, switching from “migrant” to “refugee” in reporting is simply not enough.
In fact, it may do more harm than good.
More from Norman, courtesy of Muftah: http://muftah.org/calling-people-fleeing-their-homes-refugees-instead-of-migrants-is-not-enough/#.Vgv8CX3G88C
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