The Impact of Migrant-Hostile Discourse in the Media and Politics on Racioethnic Closure in Career Development in the Netherlands

Abstract

Racioethnic inequality is a persistent trait of labour markets in countries that receive transnational migration flows. Little is known about the societal factors that influence the production of such inequality. Based on research among employees of the Dutch national tax administration, this article identifies the rise of a migrant-hostile discourse that has come to dominate Dutch politics and media since 2000 as an example of a societal factor that aggravates racioethnic closure in career advancement. It shows that tensions among colleagues triggered by public events that express this discourse fuel the career insecurities of migrant employees in particular. This insecurity has negative career consequences for them. The article argues that the study of racioethnic inequality in the labour markets of migrant-receiving countries needs to include a focus on the impact of (changes in) dominant discourses in the media and the political arena on migrants and migration.

Diversity Networks: Networking for Equality?

“…We see that board members invoke discourses of belongingness and visibility, in line with what Ghorashi and Sabelis (2013, p. 79) call 'a struggle in relation to sameness and difference'. This struggle is affected by a larger societal discourse on ethnic minorities, in which ethnic minorities are constructed as a deviation from the norm, and therefore as lacking (Ghorashi and Sabelis, 2013;Siebers, 2010). This is illustrated by existing tensions between the network and potential members, especially those in high positions who do not want to identify with, or be labelled, 'culturally diverse' as they link it to disadvantage and inequality.…”

Discrimination of Second-Generation Professionals in Leadership Positions

“…This hegemonic power is systemic, in the sense that it is part of societal structures and discourses that remain largely unquestioned in daily life (Vasta, 2007). Yet, although this power is unquestioned, it does not go unnoticed as it causes structural inequalities in society (Van Laer & Janssens, 2011;Deitch et al, 2003) that are reflected in organizational life (Siebers, 2010;Van Laer & Janssens, 2011), so that subtle discrimination remains a reality for the Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch secondgeneration professionals in leadership positions.…”

“…And along with this history of tolerance, there has been an assumed absence of racism in Dutch society (Vasta, 2007, p. 715). Even though there have been indications for some time now that discrimination exists in various fields in the Netherlands (Jungbluth, 2010;Siebers, 2010), such as the labour market with its higher levels of ethnic minority unemployment, regardless of educational level (Andriessen, Fernee, & Wittebrood, 2014;Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, 2012), the reluctance to address racism and discrimination (Ellemers & Barreto, 2009;Ghorashi, 2014;Vasta, 2007) remains.…”

The Ideologically Colonized Metropole: Dutch Racism and Racist Denial

“…This is true both for Whites, who have unacknowledged privileges throughout Dutch society, and people of color, who face discrimination in all realms of society which structure their opportunities and belonging. Overt and covert racism testifies to White Dutch perceptions of Surinamese, Antilleans, Turks, and Moroccans as outsiders and the significance of race in The Netherlands (Siebers ) resulting in minorities developing coping strategies for themselves and their children (Buijs and Hamdi, ; Hondius forthcoming). Since “the Dutch don't do race” (Hondius forthcoming), racism's persistence in a society where it is explicitly and overtly rejected must be sociologically reconciled.…”