Immigrants’ perceptions on integration in two institutional frameworks: Sweden and Spain Author: Zenia Hellgren Hellgren 2016 Final project report, June 2016 Abstract This research project examines how immigrants of diverse ethnic origins perceive their integration, or incorporation, in two European multi-ethnic societies, Sweden and Spain, and cities, Stockholm and Barcelona. A central assumption is that immigrants' own sense of social inclusion and fair treatment is essential for their wellbeing, as well as for their willingness to integrate. Negative experiences as discrimination and perceived non-acceptance are likely to decrease solidarity and identification with society. The emphasis lies on two central dimensions of self- perceived integration, or incorporation: i) the sense of belonging and ii) the perception of opportunities. Integration is in this project defined as the process towards egalitarian coexistence in multi-ethnic societies. Project manager and author of the report: Zenia Hellgren, PhD in Sociology. Researcher and coordinator of GRITIM-UPF (The interdisciplinary research group on immigration), Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona. Website: https://www.upf.edu/gritim/ E-mail address: [email protected] This project has been funded by a postdoctoral research grant from the foundation Anna Ahlströms och Ellen Terserus stiftelse/Stockholm University (ahlstromska.se) 2 Hellgren 2016 Table of Contents Project summary (English) .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Resumen del proyecto (Spanish) .............................................................................................................................. 10 Resum del projecte (Catalan) ...................................................................................................................................... 15 Projektsammanfattning (Swedish) .......................................................................................................................... 20 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 25 1.1. The gap between integration policies and integration processes ........................................................ 29 1.2. Purpose of the project ............................................................................................................................................ 31 1.3. Who is an “immigrant”? ......................................................................................................................................... 32 1.4. The city level in integration studies ................................................................................................................. 33 1.5. An inductive approach to integration .............................................................................................................. 34 2. Theoretical framework: social boundaries and self-perceived integration ................ 35 2.1. Collective identities and the boundaries of belonging: what common framework for inclusion in multiethnic societies?............................................................................................................................. 35 2.1.1. “Race” and class: conceptualizing the immigrant disadvantage..................................................... 37 2.2. Integration as experience-based and self-perceived ................................................................................ 39 3. Description of data, research methods and analysis ...................................................................... 41 3.1. Data selection ............................................................................................................................................................. 43 3.1.1. Selecting the immigrant respondents ........................................................................................................ 43 3.1.2. The immigrant respondents: some descriptive data ........................................................................... 47 3.1.3. The stakeholder respondents ........................................................................................................................ 50 3.2. Conducting the study .............................................................................................................................................. 52 3.2.1. The macro and meso levels ............................................................................................................................ 52 3.2.2. The micro level .................................................................................................................................................. 53 4. Results of the study .................................................................................................................................................. 54 4.1. Integration in two different institutional frameworks: policies and practices in Barcelona (Catalonia/Spain) and Stockholm (Sweden) ......................................................................................................... 54 4.1.1. Immigration and integration in Barcelona/Catalonia/ Spain ......................................................... 55 4.1.1.1. Background and current situation .................................................................................................. 55 4.1.1.2. Catalan national identity ..................................................................................................................... 57 4.1.1.3. Integration work in Barcelona: opportunities and challenges ........................................... 58 4.1.2. Immigration and integration in Stockholm/Sweden ............................................................................ 61 4.1.2.1. Background and current situation .................................................................................................. 61 4.1.2.2. “Swedishness” and subtle forms of exclusion ............................................................................ 65 4.1.2.3. Integration work in Stockholm: opportunities and challenges .......................................... 66 3 Hellgren 2016 4.1.3. Integration and gender: an unclear relation? ........................................................................................ 69 4.2. The situation of different immigrant groups in Stockholm and Barcelona ...................................... 71 4.2.1. Black Africans...................................................................................................................................................... 72 4.2.2. Immigrants from Muslim countries ............................................................................................................ 75 4.2.3. Latin Americans ................................................................................................................................................. 77 4.2.4. Asians ..................................................................................................................................................................... 79 4.2.5. Western migrants .............................................................................................................................................. 82 4.3. Immigrants’ perceptions on integration: difference, belonging, opportunities and obstacles ............................................................................................................................................................................... 83 4.3.1. Motives behind the migration project and profile of the respondents ......................................... 83 4.3.1.1. Ethnic pluralism in Stockholm and Barcelona: experiences of being an immigrant in two different contexts ......................................................................................................................................... 85 4.3.2. Ethnic stereotyping – positive and negative stereotypes and their consequences ................... 94 4.3.2.1. Privileged nationalities - when difference is an asset ............................................................. 95 4.3.2.2. Difference as a disadvantage: Black, Muslim and Latin American immigrants ..................................................................................... 100 4.3.2.2.1. Stereotypes affecting Black immigrants ................................................................... 101 4.3.2.2.2. Stereotypes affecting immigrants from Muslim countries ................................. 104 4.3.2.2.3. Stereotypes affecting Latin American immigrants ............................................... 106 4.3.2.3. Positive and negative stereotypes about Asian immigrants ............................................. 108 4.3.3. Experiences of discrimination and racism ............................................................................................ 112 4.3.3.1. Discrimination in the labor market ............................................................................................. 113 4.3.3.1.1. Discrimination in access to employment .................................................................. 113 4.3.3.1.2. Discriminatory or racist treatment at the workplace ......................................... 119 4.3.3.2. Discrimination