Paper Short Abstract:

This paper examines the ways in which Romanian migrants represent themselves and how their image is represented in public discourse in Romania. The following questions will be addressed in the paper: Which aspects of migrants' experiences are absent from the Romanian discourse? Which narratives about Romanian migrants are absent from the public discourse?

Paper Abstract:

The author's objective is to examine how the Romanian migrant self-represents and how his/her image is represented in public discourse in Romania. This investigation is based on the premise that anthropologists can gain insight into the most intimate and profound emotions of their respondents when recording their life stories. The image of the Romanian migrant has undergone a series of transformations, oscillating between pride and shame and encompassing a range of gray areas. This image has shifted and evolved over time, reflecting a complex and nuanced portrayal of the migrant experience. An ambivalent image in which Romanian migrants continue to search for their identity.

This paper analyses the image of the Romanian migrant as it emerges from the public discourse and is reflected in a collection of life story interviews. The author conducted the interviews between 2014-2024. They were collected and contextualized with participant observations. The interviews were conducted with different members of transnational families. The paper will also reflect on the evolution of the discourse on migration in Romania, particularly in terms of the changing emotional dimensions associated with migration across different historical periods. It will address the following questions: What aspects of migrants' experiences are not discussed in the Romanian discourse? What narratives about Romanian migrants are absent from the public discourse?