What is moral panic?
Moral panic is a phrase that has been used since 1830 to describe the fear among people that some form of evil threatens social values and interests. This fear can refer to a condition, an episode, a person or a group of persons. Social concern is usually aroused through the work of moral entrepreneurs and the mass media. The mass media is often a key player in the dissemination of moral indignation.
One of the most pervasive moral panics in America is immigration.
Moral panic is a phrase that has been used since 1830 to describe the fear among people that some form of evil threatens social values and interests. This fear can refer to a condition, an episode, a person or a group of persons. Social concern is usually aroused through the work of moral entrepreneurs and the mass media. The mass media is often a key player in the dissemination of moral indignation.
One of the most pervasive moral panics in America is immigration.
"DON'T LET THE OUTSIDERS IN!":
AMERICA'S OLDEST MORAL PANIC
AMERICA'S OLDEST MORAL PANIC
IM·MI·GRANT
/ˈIMƏꞬRƏNT/ NOUN A PERSON WHO COMES TO LIVE PERMANENTLY IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. SYNONYMS: NEWC-OMER, SETTLER, MI-GRANT, EMIGRANT |
America has long been hailed as the country of immigrants. Despite this fact, immigration is the “threat” that pops up every thirty to fifty years depending largely on international atmosphere. As moral panic over immigration escalates in waves, the issue polemically divides the country and threatens to break apart the fabric of American economic, social and cultural life. The fears people express over immigrants are repeated in the cultural fabric, most noticeably reflected in media coverage.
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