A 2026 study by Y. Gordon looks at how whiteness shapes the experiences of Ukrainian refugees in the UK, with a particular focus on how refugees represent themselves on social media. Published in the European Journal of Communication, the research places media visibility and identity at the center of the discussion around displacement and reception.
The study examines Ukrainian refugees' media self-representation in the UK rather than focusing only on how news outlets describe them. By looking at social media, it highlights how refugees present their own stories, identities and place in British society, and how those efforts are influenced by broader racial and cultural ideas.
A key theme is the role of whiteness in framing Ukrainian refugees as a "not-so-other" in public discourse. The research suggests that racialized perceptions can shape how refugee experiences are understood, discussed and responded to, including in digital spaces where people tell their own stories and navigate public attention.
The article adds to wider debates about refugee coverage, identity and belonging in the UK. By linking whiteness, media representation and self-presentation online, the study offers a focused academic view of how Ukrainian refugees are seen by others and how they seek to define themselves in the media landscape.
