"Desde sus ojos": foto reportaje sobre la migración venezolana en Quito

Abstract

This report presents the results of the research process undertaken to create a photo essay analyzing the impact of social perceptions surrounding migration in the city of Quito, specifically in relation to the social integration processes of the Venezuelan population. The theoretical framework reflects on the migratory phenomenon, the construction of stereotypes, practices of social rejection, hate speech, the so-called culture of rejection, and the processes by which these dynamics become normalized within the social context. For the fieldwork, and considering both the nature of the subject of study and the type of communication product, a qualitative methodology was employed. In-depth interviews were conducted with Venezuelan citizens who have migrated to Ecuador and have resided in Quito for several years. Additionally, observations of their daily lives were carried out to contrast and enrich the information obtained during the interviews, allowing for a broader understanding of their life experiences. Among the main findings, the study highlighted the role of traditional and digital media audiences in normalizing practices that reject migrants, regardless of their socioeconomic status. It also identified that the social perception of migrants is influenced by political discourses that vary according to the agendas within which political action is framed, directly impacting the construction of social representations of migration.