‘Becoming’ a possible threat: masculinity, culture and questioning among unaccompanied young men in Sweden

Abstract

To cite this article: Marcus Herz (2018) A debate on masculinity and immigration rose across Europe in 2015 after an incident with sexual harassments taking place in Cologne, Germany. The incident refuelled a debate positioning unaccompanied young men as a possible threat. This article is based on a research project where we during this time ethnographically followed 20 young men, having arrived in Sweden as 'unaccompanied' minors. The aim is to examine how the young men themselves talk about, reflect on and negotiate masculinity and gender during this period. The article concludes that masculinity cannot be approached as something stable easily being inherited or transferred from one's origins. One difference for 'unaccompanied' young men is how conflicts or tensions emerging in relation to issues of gender and masculinity tend to be interpreted differently, and publicly, putting the young men in a 'gendered situation of questioning'.

Recognition in the lives of unaccompanied children and youth: A review of the key European literature

“…The feeling of belonging as a valuable and active member in a community contributes to the solidarity form of recognition. A wish for recognition as an active member of a community was evident in many studies in this review (Bitzi & Landolt, 2017; Chase, 2013; Eide et al, 2018; Herz, 2019; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Hopkins & Hill, 2010; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Ní Raghallaigh, 2011; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2017; Pastoor, 2017; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Sirriyeh & Ní Raghallaigh, 2018; Wernesjö, 2015). Whereas for some participants of the studies this wish ultimately became a reality, many others experienced misrecognition through the stereotypical and/or racist views of local people, professionals, co‐workers or bosses.…”

“…Legal guardians and staff at their living units became close, yet these relationships remained professional. Some of the children and youth in the studies described how their needs as children, in particular, the need for reciprocal care, love and support, were not recognized by the staff at the living units, the legal guardians, teachers or other officials in their lives (Bjerneld et al, 2018; De Graeve & Bex, 2016, 2017; Deveci, 2012; Eide et al, 2018; Herz, 2019; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Kaukko & Wernesjö, 2017; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; Oppedal et al, 2017; Pastoor, 2015; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Wernesjö, 2015). De Graeve and Bex (2017), Eide et al (2018), Herz and Lalander (2017), Ní Raghallaigh (2014) and Wernesjö (2015) all described the unaccompanied children and youth as possibly perceiving these officials plainly as people ‘doing their job,’ rather than as people who were emotionally involved or with whom a reciprocal trusting relationship could be created.…”

“…Participants in several studies reported experiencing close, family‐like ties in institutional care (Eriksson & Hedberg Rundgren, 2019; Gustafsson et al, 2012; Kaukko & Wernesjö, 2017; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2015; Pastoor, 2017; Wernesjö, 2015) and foster families (Herz, 2019; Kohli et al, 2010; Ní Raghallaigh, 2014; Sirriyeh, 2013; Sirriyeh & Ní Raghallaigh, 2018) and with friends and their families (Bjerneld et al, 2018; Eriksson & Hedberg Rundgren, 2019; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2017; Pastoor, 2017; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Sinha & Uppal, 2009; Wernesjö, 2015), people from non‐governmental organizations and other family‐like guides (De Graeve & Bex, 2016, 2017; Herz & Lalander, 2017). When comparing foster care with institutional care, foster care was found to be a form of housing, where recognitive relationships are more likely to be created (Herz, 2019; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Kohli et al, 2010; Ní Raghallaigh, 2014; Sirriyeh, 2013; Sirriyeh & Ní Raghallaigh, 2018). Further, Bjerneld, Ismail and Puthoopparambil, (2018), Kaukko and Wernesjö (2017), Kohli, Connolly and Warman, (2010) and Lundberg and Dahlquist (2012) emphasized that, from the perspective of recognition, it is vitally important that personal needs are considered in the organization of care and that opportunities exist for the young people involved to participate in everyday decisions concerning their lives.…”

“…Whereas for some participants of the studies this wish ultimately became a reality, many others experienced misrecognition through the stereotypical and/or racist views of local people, professionals, co‐workers or bosses. Sometimes the systems labelled them as immigrants, refugees or unaccompanied asylum seekers (rather than young human beings), making them feel excluded (Bitzi & Landolt, 2017; Chase, 2010, 2013; De Graeve & Bex, 2017; Deveci, 2012; Herz, 2019; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Oppedal et al, 2017; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2017; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Wernesjö, 2015).…”

Resisting social death with dignity. The strategy of re-escaping among young asylum-seekers in the wake of Sweden’s sharpened asylum laws

“…Under-aged boys and girls, so-called unaccompanied minors arriving without parents or other legal guardians, have been the centre of attention, and the boys, constituting the majority, have received ample negative coverage, both in traditional and social media (Djampour, 2018;Herz, 2018). Of 163,000 asylum applicants the year 2015, approximately 35,000 arrived and registered as unaccompanied minors (Migrationsverket, 2018).…”