@article{fdi:010090468,
  title = {{C}onstructing {E}bola martyrs, warriors, and saviours : online heroisation in a context of risk and unease},
  author = {{R}oy, {M}. and {M}oreau, {N}. and {R}ousseau, {C}. and {M}ercier, {A}. and {W}ilson, {A}. and {D}ozon, {J}ean-{P}ierre and {A}tlani {D}uault, {L}a{\¨e}titia},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he perception of epidemic risk has been associated with the production of narratives in which figures such as villains and heroes emerge. {T}his article critically analyzes social media users' construction of heroic figures during the 2013-2016 {E}bola epidemic. {W}e used international {T}witter and {F}acebook comments as our raw material, collected by key word extraction. {A} thematic analysis resulted in a descriptive typology of three heroic figures: the martyr, the warrior, and the saviour. {O}ur analysis showed that heroic status (highly associated with willingness to take high risks on behalf of others) was mostly conferred on common individuals and 'insiders' living in the {E}bola-afflicted communities - often deemed 'unsung' - rather than the foreigners frequently heroised in previous crises. {W}e deconstruct this heroisation dynamic, showing that it is a socially strategic move because it is embedded in a potential instrumentalization of heroes. {F}irst, this production of 'everyday heroes' may encourage the involvement of lay people in the epidemic response, by conveying that anyone can become a health hero. {S}econd, we show that this heroisation process maintains the status quo by encouraging adherence to biomedical discourses, and by individualising the narrative and neglecting the structural changes needed to address the epidemic. {F}inally, we caution against discourses that seem socially 'progressive' but may be used as a smokescreen to hide discriminatory dynamics, and we recommend changes in communication strategies.},
  keywords = {{H}ero ; health risk perception ; {E}bola ; epidemic ; social media},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{H}ealth {R}isk and {S}ociety},
  volume = {23},
  numero = {1-2},
  pages = {73--91},
  ISSN = {1369-8575},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1080/13698575.2021.1902954},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010090468},
}