10. Norwegian Enough? The Significance of The Body in Recruitment of Immigrants in Physiotherapy Education

Abstract

Why are immigrants underrepresented in physiotherapy education? Based on fieldwork in a physiotherapy education, I explore how immigrants' understanding of body can affect their study choices. The study indicates that physiotherapy education expects a 'Norwegian' understanding of the body and that student's experience of mastering depends on whether they succeed in adapting to this expectation. Other reasons for the underrepresentation of immigrants in the physiotherapy program are also discussed.