Gendered integration? Experiences of women who have migrated from the Global South to Finland
Nieminen, Elli (2023)
Nieminen, Elli
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023112030137
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023112030137
Tiivistelmä
This is a qualitative study about women’s integration. The aim of the study was to find out how women experience their integration processes and what kind of supporting factors and barriers could be identified. The data was collected by interviewing 10 women who have migrated from the Global South to Finland. Seven individual interviews and one group interview were conducted. The study was conducted in cooperation with MLL Tampere department.
Integration is often seen as a question of employment and learning the language, but it is more multidimensional than that. It is a socially constructed process, and it includes the receiving society’s practices, policies, and ability to adapt. Public discussion on migration and integration is also tightly connected to global events and political debates, and the discussion is directly linked to gender as well. Differences between nationalities and ethnic groups are viewed through the lenses of gender. On the other hand, some gender-specific challenges have been linked to women’s integration in Finland, and it is fair to say that migrant women have untapped integration potential.
The interviews and analysis of the thesis were structured by Heckmann’s theory of integration (2006). It formed a multidimensional framework for organizing the data, since it divides social integration into structural, cultural, interactive, and identificative integration. According to the findings of the study, more emphasis on interactive and identificative integration are needed. Integration does not happen in a vacuum, and social networks and support from the loved ones are crucially important. Some gender-specific vulnerabilities could be identified, and the role of social support was emphasized in dealing with those vulnerabilities. On the other hand, lack of support as well as different forms of racism were identified as barriers to integration.
When integration is discussed, the focus is often on representation instead of identity. Inclusiveness and communality of the receiving society could support the migrants and strengthen the feeling of belonging.
Integration is often seen as a question of employment and learning the language, but it is more multidimensional than that. It is a socially constructed process, and it includes the receiving society’s practices, policies, and ability to adapt. Public discussion on migration and integration is also tightly connected to global events and political debates, and the discussion is directly linked to gender as well. Differences between nationalities and ethnic groups are viewed through the lenses of gender. On the other hand, some gender-specific challenges have been linked to women’s integration in Finland, and it is fair to say that migrant women have untapped integration potential.
The interviews and analysis of the thesis were structured by Heckmann’s theory of integration (2006). It formed a multidimensional framework for organizing the data, since it divides social integration into structural, cultural, interactive, and identificative integration. According to the findings of the study, more emphasis on interactive and identificative integration are needed. Integration does not happen in a vacuum, and social networks and support from the loved ones are crucially important. Some gender-specific vulnerabilities could be identified, and the role of social support was emphasized in dealing with those vulnerabilities. On the other hand, lack of support as well as different forms of racism were identified as barriers to integration.
When integration is discussed, the focus is often on representation instead of identity. Inclusiveness and communality of the receiving society could support the migrants and strengthen the feeling of belonging.