Stuck with the stigma? How Muslim migrant women in the Netherlands deal – individually and collectively – with negative stereotypes

Abstract

This explorative study focuses on how first- and second-generation migrant women of Turkish and Moroccan descent in the Netherlands cope with increasing stigmatization – both individually and collectively. This study applies stigma coping responses identified in the psychological literature to qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with migrant women and migrant women’s organizations. The results help to uncover the dynamic changes of responses to stigmatization over time and detect differences between individual- and collective-level strategies. Furthermore, while most studies tend to omit the importance of intersecting social markers (e.g. gender and ethnicity) when it comes to dealing with stigmatization, this study explores how women’s coping strategies might be influenced by the intersection of their generational status, age, educational level, and ethno-nationality/cultural background. The findings have important implications for both stigmatization research and for Dutch policy makers.

Multiple Discrimination against Female Immigrants Wearing Headscarves

“…They illustrate how veiled Muslim women challenge negative evaluations of their identity not only by showing that they are ''good people'' who ''have something to offer'' (Ryan 2011(Ryan : 1052 but also by refashioning the veil in a modern way that challenges the conventional stigma while continuing to affirm their Muslim identity (Chapman 2016). Other responses of Muslim women to their stigma are compensation and circumvention (Eijberts and Roggeband 2016), that is, working particularly hard to try to ''make up'' for their stigma and avoiding adverse situations (e.g., working for a prejudiced employer). Job applicants who want to screen for unbiased companies can do so by attaching a photograph showing them wearing a headscarf (a procedure adopted in this study).…”

“…Numerous studies have recently investigated the Muslim veil as a stigma (e.g., Ryan 2011; Chapman 2016; Eijberts and Roggeband 2016). They illustrate how veiled Muslim women challenge negative evaluations of their identity not only by showing that they are “good people” who “have something to offer” (Ryan 2011: 1052) but also by refashioning the veil in a modern way that challenges the conventional stigma while continuing to affirm their Muslim identity (Chapman 2016).…”

To include or not to include? A poetics perspective on the Muslim workforce in the West

“…In discussing overlapping social markers such as gender and ethnicity in the Netherlands, Eijberts and Roggeband (2016) elucidate how first and second-generation immigrant women of Turkish and Moroccan descent have to cope with increasing stigmatization both at an individual and collective level. Essers and Benschop (2009) discuss how Islam is negotiated within an entrepreneurial context for Muslim business-women who may resist dogmatic interpretations of Islam, while employing religious norms and values of individualism and honour.…”

Social Processes Affecting the Workforce Integration of First-Generation Immigrant Health Care Professionals in Aging Citizens in the Netherlands

“…Intercultural understanding, egalitarianism principles, and positive interactions between immigrant nurses and established nurses are factors which influence positive workforce integration. However, studies show that these conditions are difficult to achieve due to the existence of ethnocentrism and racial discrimination in the health care sector (Al Maqbali, 2015;Aurilio, 2017;Eijberts & Roggeband, 2016).…”