DOCSLIB.ORG

A Qualitative Study Exploring the Acculturation Processes Among Well Adapted Somali Females in Denmark

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Qualitative Study Exploring the Acculturation Processes Among Well Adapted Somali Females in Denmark A qualitative study exploring the acculturation processes among well adapted Somali females in Denmark Hannah Regitze Bond Centre for International Health Department for Global public health and primary care Faculty of Medicine University of Bergen, Norway 2019 A qualitative study exploring the acculturation processes among well-adapted Somali females in Denmark Hannah Regitze Bond This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Global Health at the University of Bergen. Centre for International Health Department for global health and primary care Faculty of Medicine University of Bergen, Norway 2019 Abstract Background: Research on Somalis in Europe tend to focus on poor integration and adaptation of the group into western societies. In Denmark, Somalis are highlighted as a migrant group impossible to integrate, resulting in the political agenda becoming increasingly radicalized and assimilation politics outlived. A Salutogenetic approach on well adapted Somali females in Denmark is an underlit research area which could provide valuable information for changing the migrant paradigm in Denmark. Methods: This was a qualitative descriptive study applying several in-depth interviews as sampling method. The aim was to explore the acculturation processes, including the concept of integration and adaptation of female Somali migrants in Denmark. This from a Salutogenetic perspective focusing on strengths and sense of coherence among the group. For analysing the data, thematic networks were applied and results were interpreted by applying Antonovsky´s salutogenetic theory, Sense of Coherence and existing relevant literature. Results: Integrating into Danish society is linked to fulfilling personal goals and Denmark is seen as a country full of possibilities migrants should take advantage of. Integration is perceived as socially strengthening and necessary, to move forward in life. The women see themselves as main role players and taking control over own life in order to fulfil dreams, is a matter of course. The women have a strong sense of Somali identity, which is shaped by a supporting upbringing and strong role models in their parents. Finally, Denmark is perceived as a country not necessarily suited for permanent settlement, should better options occur. Conclusions: Having life goals, social needs and an optimistic mind-set, helps shape the drive for these women to adapt into Danish society. The results support an existing study from Southern Spain, suggesting a shift in the political paradigm and discourse of migrants, could in fact, support greater integration over a larger migrant group. Keywords: Acculturation, Adaptation, Salutogenesis, Sense of Coherence, Multiculturalism, Mental health promotion, Somali migrants Table of contents List of figures and tables .................................................................................................... I Figures ...................................................................................................................................... I Tables ....................................................................................................................................... I Abbreviations and acronyms .............................................................................................. I Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................ II Dedication ........................................................................................................................ II Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 Definition of terms ............................................................................................................ 3 Integration: ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Migrant: .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Acculturation: ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Adaptation: ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Health: ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 Mental health: ................................................................................................................................................ 4 Multiculturalism: ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Salutogenesis: ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Sense of Coherence: ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Literature review .............................................................................................................. 5 Migration towards Europe and Denmark ................................................................................... 5 Acculturation and Adaptation ................................................................................................... 7 Background of Somalia ............................................................................................................. 8 Somali migrants in Europe and gender roles .............................................................................. 9 Purpose of this project ............................................................................................................ 12 General objectives and specific aims ............................................................................... 12 Country profile of Denmark ............................................................................................. 13 The process of being allowed into Denmark as a migrant ......................................................... 14 Concept of Salutogenesis ........................................................................................................ 14 Sense of Coherence ...................................................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 2: Methodological approaches ........................................................................... 17 Research Strategy ................................................................................................................... 17 Qualitative study design ......................................................................................................... 17 Study setting ................................................................................................................................................. 18 Researcher .................................................................................................................................................... 18 Data collection ....................................................................................................................... 18 Sampling strategy ......................................................................................................................................... 19 Inclusion and exclusion criteria .................................................................................................................... 19 Recruitment .................................................................................................................................................. 20 Characteristics of the study participants ...................................................................................................... 21 Semi structured interviews .......................................................................................................................... 22 The interview situation................................................................................................................................. 23 Data management and analysis............................................................................................... 24 Transcription and Translation ...................................................................................................................... 24 Analysis procedure ................................................................................................................. 24 Thematic analysis ......................................................................................................................................... 24 Ethics ..................................................................................................................................... 28 Ethical clearance ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Informed consent and confidentiality .........................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Somalis in Europe
    INTERACT – RESearcHING THIRD COUNTRY NatiONALS’ INTEGratiON AS A THREE-WAY PROCESS - IMMIGrantS, COUNTRIES OF EMIGratiON AND COUNTRIES OF IMMIGratiON AS ActORS OF INTEGratiON Somalis in Europe Monica Fagioli-Ndlovu INTERACT Research Report 2015/12 CEDEM INTERACT Researching Third Country Nationals’ Integration as a Three-way Process - Immigrants, Countries of Emigration and Countries of Immigration as Actors of Integration Research Report Country Report INTERACT RR 2015/12 Somalis in Europe Monica Fagioli-Ndlovu PhD candidate in Anthropology, The New School, New York This text may be downloaded only for personal research purposes. Any additional reproduction for other purposes, whether in hard copies or electronically, requires the consent of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. Requests should be addressed to [email protected] If cited or quoted, reference should be made as follows: Monica Fagioli-Ndlovu, Somalis in Europe, INTERACT RR 2015/12, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, San Domenico di Fiesole (FI): European University Institute, 2015. The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and should not be considered as representative of the official position of the European Commission or of the European University Institute. © 2015, European University Institute ISBN: 978-92-9084-292-7 doi:10.2870/99413 Catalogue Number: QM-04-15-339-EN-N European University Institute Badia Fiesolana I – 50014 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI) Italy http://www.eui.eu/RSCAS/Publications/ http://interact-project.eu/publications/ http://cadmus.eui.eu INTERACT - Researching Third Country Nationals’ Integration as a Three-way Process - Immigrants, Countries of Emigration and Countries of Immigration as Actors of Integration In 2013 (Jan.
    [Show full text]
  • The Contribution of Somali Diaspora in Denmark to Peacebuilding in Somalia Through Multi-Track Diplomacy
    Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies Copyright 2021 2021, Vol. 8, No. 2, 241-260 ISSN: 2149-1291 http://dx.doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/642 The Contribution of Somali Diaspora in Denmark to Peacebuilding in Somalia through Multi-Track Diplomacy Sylvester Tabe Arrey The University of Buea, Cameroon Francisco Javier Ullán de la Rosa1 University of Alicante, Spain Abstract: The paper assesses the ways the Somali diaspora in Denmark is contributing to peacebuilding in their home country through what is known in peace studies as Multi-Track Diplomacy. It starts by defining the concepts of peacebuilding and Multi-track Diplomacy, showing how the latter works as an instrument for the former. The paper then describes and analyzes how, through a varied array of activities that include all tracks of diplomacy as classified by the Diamond&McDonald model, members of Danish diaspora function as interface agents between their home and host societies helping to build the conditions for a stable peace. The article also analyzes how the diplomacy tracks carried out by the Somali-Danish diaspora, as well as the extent of their reach, are shaped by the particular characteristics of this group vis-à-vis other Somali diasporic communities: namely, its small size and relatively high levels of integration and acculturation into the Danish host society. Keywords: Danish-Somalis, multi-track diplomacy, peacebuilding, Somalia, Somali diaspora. The Concepts of Peacebuilding and Multi-track Diplomacy Introduced for the first time by Galtung (1975), peacebuilding progressively became a mainstream concept in the field of peace studies (Heap, 1983; Young, 1987). The document an Agenda for Peace by UN Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali (Boutros-Ghali, 1992) can be considered its official come-of-age.
    [Show full text]
  • Connected Lives: Somalis in Minneapolis, Family Responsibilities and the Migration Dreams of Relatives
    NEW ISSUES IN REFUGEE RESEARCH Research Paper No. 124 Connected lives: Somalis in Minneapolis, family responsibilities and the migration dreams of relatives Cindy Horst International Peace Research Institute, Oslo Norway E-mail : [email protected] July 2006 Policy Development and Evaluation Service Policy Development and Evaluation Service United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees CP 2500, 1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.unhcr.org These papers provide a means for UNHCR staff, consultants, interns and associates as well as external researchers to publish the results of their research on refugee-related issues. The papers do not represent the official views of UNHCR. They are also available online under ‘publications’ at <www.unhcr.org>. ISSN 1020-7473 Introduction Somalis have migrated and dispersed globally for centuries, but especially since the civil war, they can be found in almost every country. A lot of research has been done on Somalis across the world, focusing on stayees, Internally Displaced People (IDPs), returnees, urban refugees, refugees in regional camps and resettled refugees. Yet there are many connections between the lives and livelihoods of these people in different positions. As such, a more integrated approach that studies their connectedness from the point of view of Somalis in different places is vital; both for an increased understanding of their situation as well as in order to improve the policies that affect their lives. Research has shown how transnational networks and flows of remittances, goods and information are essential for the livelihoods of Somalis in the Dadaab refugee camps of Kenya (Horst 2003).
    [Show full text]
  • Building Resilience to Violent Extremism Among Somali‐Americans in Minneapolis‐St
    Building Resilience to Violent Extremism Among Somali‐Americans in Minneapolis‐St. Paul August 2012 National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism A Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Center of Excellence Based at the University of Maryland 3300 Symons Hall • College Park, MD 20742 • 301.405.6600 • www.start.umd.edu National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism A Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Center of Excellence About This Report The authors of this report are Stevan Weine, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Osman Ahmed of Minneapolis‐St. Paul. Questions about this report should be directed to Stevan Weine at [email protected]. This report is part of a series sponsored by the Human Factors/Behavioral Sciences Division, Science and Technology Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in support of the Prevent/Deter program. The goal of this program is to sponsor research that will aid the intelligence and law enforcement communities in identifying potential terrorist threats and support policymakers in developing prevention efforts. This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s Human Factors/Behavioral Sciences Division (HFD) through Grant Award Number 2009ST108LR0003 made to the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the United States Government or START.
    [Show full text]
  • Spaces of Recognition
    Spaces of Recognition An analysis of Somali-Danish associational engagement and diasporic mobilization Nauja Kleist Ph.d.-afhandling Sociologisk Institut Spaces of Recognition An analysis of Somali-Danish associational engagement and diasporic mobilization © Nauja Kleist Ph.d.-afhandling Sociologisk Institut Københavns Universitet Indleveret til bedømmelse: December 2006 Offentligt forsvar: April 2007 Hovedvejleder: Lars Bo Kaspersen, Sociologisk Institut Bivejleder: Ninna Nyberg Sørensen, Dansk Institut for Internationale Studier Bedømmelsesudvalg: Peter Gundelach, Sociologisk Institut (formand) Peggy Levitt, Sociology Department, Wellesley College Anita H. Fábos, School of Social Science, Media and Cultural Studies, University of East London Omslag: Klavs B. Thomsen Opsætning: Anne-Lise Schulze Andersen ISBN-13: 978-87-7296-242-9 ISBN-10: 87-7296-242-9 2 Table of contents PART I DEPARTURES................................................................................. 9 Chapter 1 Introduction................................................................................... 11 Puzzles and concerns.................................................................................... 12 Research questions ....................................................................................... 17 Processes of inclusion and transnationalism ................................................ 18 Integration or inclusion? .......................................................................... 19 Transnational involvement......................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mixed Migration Flows
    MIXED MIGRATION FLOWS: SOMALI AND ETHIOPIAN MIGRATION TO YEMEN AND TURKEY FINAL REPORT MAY 2010 Prepared for the Mixed Migration Task Force Ray Jureidini Center for Migration and Refugee Studies American University in Cairo 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank all those who shared their life stories during the interviews as well as the interviewers and translators in Yemen and Turkey who made this possible. Our appreciation goes to United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) staff in Yemen including Claire Bourgeois, Samer Haddadin, Leila Nassif, Myra Sabongi, Miriam Aertker and in Turkey to Michelle Gaude and in Syria to Petros Mastakas and to the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) staff including Santiago Perez Crespo, Nicolas Coutin and Yusra Dawood and Olivier Beucher for facilitating the logistics, training and interviews for the study; and to Oxford University for advisory support. Particular thanks to Nancy Baron of CMRS as senior researcher in Yemen, for her work on the first drafts of this report and her support and advice throughout the project. Special thanks also to Kristen Biehl, Senior Researcher and Alice Johnson, Research Coordinator who implemented the study in Turkey. Thanks to Khadra Elmi at Oxford University for work on the literature review of Somalis in Europe; Catherine McKay (and Iveta Bartunkova) at the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies at AUC for the work on the Somali and Ethiopian literature review in the region; and Kristen Biehl for the review on migration and asylum in Turkey. We are grateful to Anna Lindley, Oliver Bakewell and Gwendoline Mensah for their comments on a previous draft.
    [Show full text]
  • SOMALI and AFGHAN DIASPORA ASSOCIATIONS in Development and Relief Cooperation Table of Contents
    DIIS REPORT 2015: 13 SOMALI AND AFGHAN DIASPORA ASSOCIATIONS in Development and Relief Cooperation Table of Contents Acknowledgements 4 List of Abbreviations 4 Executive Summary 6 Introduction 11 Objectives 13 Methods, Approach and Definitions 13 Overview of the Report 15 Diaspora and Development 17 Migration and Development Rediscovered 18 Policy Interest in Remittances 19 Remittances and Development 21 Diaspora Organisations and Collective Remittances 23 Diaspora Support Models 24 Diaspora Funding Opportunities in Denmark 26 New Trends 27 Afghan and Somali Displacement – History and Context 31 Afghan Migration History 32 Development Aid and Remittances to Afghanistan 35 This report is written by Matilde Skov Danstrøm, Nauja Kleist & Ninna Nyberg Somali Migration History 35 Sørensen and published by DIIS as part of the ‘Tendencies in Development Development Aid and Remittances to Somalia 37 Policies’ grant. Afghan and Somali Diaspora Associations in Denmark 39 DIIS · Danish Institute for International Studies Characteristics, Aims and Activities of Diaspora Associations 41 Østbanegade 117, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark Motivations for Involvement 46 Tel: +45 32 69 87 87 Narratives of National Orientation 49 E-mail: [email protected] Circular Mobility: the Importance of Local Networks and Free Movement 51 www.diis.dk Administrative Burdens 54 Institutional Barriers 55 Layout: Lone Ravnkilde & Viki Rachlitz Conclusion 59 Printed in Denmark by Eurographic Danmark Recommendations 62 ISBN 978-87-7605-765-7 (print) Annex 65 ISBN 978-87-7605-764-0 (pdf) References 71 © Copenhagen 2015, DIIS 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FMU Fund Management Unit FORIM Forum des Organisations de Solidarité Internationale The authors would like to extend a warm thanks to the representatives of the Afghan Issues des Migrations and Somali diaspora associations who by investing their precious time made this FSTF From Street to School study possible.
    [Show full text]
  • Scandinavia's Population Groups Originating from Developing Countries: Change and Integration
    TemaNord 20 TemaNord 13:561 Ved Stranden 18 DK-1061 Copenhagen K www.norden.org Scandinavia’s Population Groups Originating from Developing Countries: Scandinavia’s Population Groups Originating from Change and Integration Developing Countries: Change and Integration Scandinavia’s foreign-origin population has steadily increased over the past six decades. Migration flows into the region have been linked to societal phenomena such as growing labour demands, family reunifica- tion and the acceptance of refugees fleeing wars and political conflicts. Whereas earlier migration streams were generally expected to inte- grate relatively easily, concerns about the current streams are high on the political agenda. This report is a cross-country research into selected key features of population change and the integration of population groups with roots in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Turkey and Vietnam in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The research has sought to achieve three objectives. The first is to determine how and when the groups came to the three Scandinavian countries and how they have since developed. The second is to analyze two aspects of the groups’ integration, namely their participation in education and their participation in the labour market. And the final objective is to provide a brief overview of the groups’ situation in each of the three countries with regards to economic development, immigra- tion history and policy development. TemaNord 2013:561 ISBN 978-92-893-2598-1 Tn2013561 omslag.indd 1 16-09-2013 10:27:25 Scandinavia's Population Groups Originating from Developing Countries: Change and Integration Pieter Bevelander, Rasmus H. Bilde, Inge Dahlstedt, Marc Eskelund, Line Møller Hansen, Miroslav Macura, Kasper Gehrke Pedersen and Lars Østby TemaNord 2013:561 Scandinavia's Population Groups Originating from Developing Countries: Change and Integration Pieter Bevelander, Rasmus H.
    [Show full text]
  • Joëlle Moret
    IMISCOE Research Series Joëlle Moret European Somalis’ Post-Migration Movements Mobility Capital and the Transnationalisation of Resources IMISCOE Research Series This series is the official book series of IMISCOE, the largest network of excellence on migration and diversity in the world. It comprises publications which present empirical and theoretical research on different aspects of international migration. The authors are all specialists, and the publications a rich source of information for researchers and others involved in international migration studies. The series is published under the editorial supervision of the IMISCOE Editorial Committee which includes leading scholars from all over Europe. The series, which contains more than eighty titles already, is internationally peer reviewed which ensures that the book published in this series continue to present excellent academic standards and scholarly quality. Most of the books are available open access. For information on how to submit a book proposal, please visit: http://www. imiscoe.org/publications/how-to-submit-a-book-proposal. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/13502 Joëlle Moret European Somalis’ Post-Migration Movements Mobility Capital and the Transnationalisation of Resources Joëlle Moret Laboratory for Study of Social Processes University of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel, Switzerland ISSN 2364-4087 ISSN 2364-4095 (electronic) IMISCOE Research Series ISBN 978-3-319-95659-6 ISBN 978-3-319-95660-2 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95660-2
    [Show full text]
  • Somalis in Copenhagen
    Somalis-cover-Copenhaneg_20141016_Layout 1 2014.10.16. 15:15 Page 1 AT HOME IN EUROPE SOMALIS SOMALIS IN Minority communities – whether Muslim, migrant or Roma – continue to come under COPENHAGEN intense scrutiny in Europe today. This complex situation presents Europe with one its greatest challenges: how to ensure equal rights in an environment of rapidly expanding diversity. IN COPENHAGEN At Home in Europe, part of the Open Society Initiative for Europe, Open Society Foundations, is a research and advocacy initiative which works to advance equality and social justice for minority and marginalised groups excluded from the mainstream of civil, political, economic, and, cultural life in Western Europe. Somalis in European Cities Muslims in EU Cities was the project’s first comparative research series which examined the position of Muslims in 11 cities in the European Union. Somalis in European cities follows from the findings emerging from the Muslims in EU Cities reports and offers the experiences and challenges faced by Somalis across seven cities in Europe. The research aims to capture the everyday, lived experiences as well as the type and degree of engagement policymakers have initiated with their Somali and minority constituents. 01 somalis-COPENHAGENinc-publish-2014-0930_publish.qxd 2014.10.16. 15:14 Page 1 Somalis in Copenhagen At Home in Europe 01 somalis-COPENHAGENinc-publish-2014-0930_publish.qxd 2014.10.16. 15:14 Page 2 ©2014 Open Society Foundations This publication is available as a pdf on the Open Society Foundations website under a Creative Commons license that allows copying and distributing the publication, only in its entirety, as long as it is attributed to the Open Society Foundations and used for noncommercial educational or public policy purposes.
    [Show full text]
  • The Integration Experiences of Somali Refugee and Asylum Seeker Young People
    Somali Report Cover Nov 07 21/11/07 1:49 pm Page 1 Identities on the Move: the integration experiences of Somali refugee and asylum seeker young people Deborah Sporton • Gill Valentine © cover photograph copyright of Chris Clune Identities on the Move: the integration experiences of Somali refugee and asylum seeker young people Deborah Sporton, Department of Geography, University of Sheffield Gill Valentine, School of Geography, University of Leeds Notes i Definitions: an asylum seeker is someone who has applied for asylum and is awaiting a decision on the outcomes: they do not have the right to work or to benefits and have only limited access to further and higher education; a refugee is someone who has been granted leave to remain in the UK as a refugee. ii The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 does not apply to children arriving under the age of 18 who are granted leave to remain under the Children’s Act (1989) under which they are placed into the care of a Local Authority until their asylum claim is assessed at 18. iii When the integration policy was tightened in 2002 the number of successful applications for Danish citizenship fell by 72% (Danish Refugee Council, 2004). • Young people are wary of Identities on the Move: claiming a British identity the integration because ‘British’ is implicitly still experiences of Somali imagined as a white identity. refugee and asylum • Community space for migrant groups, such as the Somalis, to seeker young people define their own identities is important in giving these groups Most research about the the security to feel they belong to experiences of refugee and asylum the nation.
    [Show full text]
  • P:\Dokumenter\Artikler
    Stichproben. Wiener Zeitschrift für kritische Afrikastudien. Nr. 7/2004, 4. Jg. Roots, Rights and Responsibilities: Place-making and Repatriation among Somalis in Denmark and Somaliland Mette Fink-Nielsen, Peter Hansen & Nauja Kleist Abstract How do Somalis residing in Denmark and repatriated Somalis in Somaliland understand the questions of repatriation, home and belonging? Which livelihood strategies and strategies of mobility do they deploy? How are the places of exile and homeland experienced? And why do some Somalis in exile return to Somaliland, while others remain abroad? In this article we analyse how Somalis in Denmark and Somaliland understand and practice their own possible or actual voluntary repatriation. We do not pretend to offer the final answers to the questions above, but present some analytical reflections focusing on the interplay between abstract ideas of place, processes of place-making and very concrete livelihood strategies, often transnational in nature. Our main argument is that both questions of identity, emotions, and loyalties as well as questions of economy, responsibilities towards others and rights related to territorial entities, and citizenship are important for understanding the visions and practices involved in voluntary repatriation. Introduction Voluntary repatriation has been emphasized as an ideal durable solution by the UNHCR since 1980 (EXCOM 1980, 1985, 1993, 1994, 1997; Allen & Morsink 1994:1; Aleinikoff 1995:262). The idealisation of voluntary repatriation has however been challenged by researchers pointing at the assumptions within the ‘international refugee regime’ – such as the idea that refugees have a unambiguous sense of belonging directed towards their homeland, and the perception of repatriation as a distinct phase in the so called ‘refugee cycle’ (see Harrell-Bond 1989; Malkki 1992, 1995, 1997; Warner 1994; Aleinikoff 1995; Hansen 1998, 2001; Chimni 1999; Fink-Nielsen & Kleist 2000).
    [Show full text]