A1 Journal article (refereed)
Lasten ja vanhusten toimijuus : diskurssianalyysi neljän puolueen eduskuntavaaliohjelmista (2021)
The agency of children and older adults : a discourse analysis ofprograms of four parties written for parliamentary elections

Karjalainen, A.-M., Ukkonen-Mikkola, T., Luodonpää-Manni, M., & Pietilä, I. (2021). Lasten ja vanhusten toimijuus : diskurssianalyysi neljän puolueen eduskuntavaaliohjelmista. Janus: sosiaalipolitiikan ja sosiaalityön tutkimuksen aikakauslehti, 29(1), 4-20. https://doi.org/10.30668/janus.80298

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Karjalainen, Anne-Maria; Ukkonen-Mikkola, Tuulikki; Luodonpää-Manni, Milla; Pietilä, Ilkka

Journal or series: Janus: sosiaalipolitiikan ja sosiaalityön tutkimuksen aikakauslehti

ISSN: 1235-7812

eISSN: 2489-4990

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 29

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 4-20

Publisher: Sosiaalipoliittinen yhdistys

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30668/janus.80298

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/76313

Abstract

In this study we observe how the agency of children and older adults are described in programs written for parliamentary elections. The material consists of programs written for parliamentary elections between 1991 and 2019 by the four largest parties in Finland. We used critical discourse analysis as a research method. We identified two discourses concerning the agency of the children and the older adults: children and older adults as passive actors and as active actors. Within the passive actor discourse various societal actors were active but not the children nor the older adults. Children and older adults were portrayed as objects of services, activities and protection but not as actors themselves. Within the active actor discourse childrens' agency was something to be seen in the future and seniors' agency is something they still have despite their age. The four largest parties describe the agency of children and older adults surprisingly similarly in their programs.

Keywords: social policy; social services; service systems; children (age groups); older people; human agency; political parties; election platforms; general elections; discourse analysis

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1