Kyllä se järjestyy. : En intersektionell studie av inflyttade kvinnors arbetssituation i Pajala kommun.

• Main Author: Mäkikaltio, Lisa
• Format: Others
• Language: Swedish
• Published: Umeå universitet, Pedagogiska institutionen 2012
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-66861

This study is an intersectional analysis of how women who’ve immigrated to the bilingual municipality of Pajala, experience their current and future work life. The study is based on nine qualitative interviews with women of different class, age and origin. A number of constellations of relationships between these categories emerge in this study. What seems most central is that traditional notions of femininity and masculinity segregate labor vertically and horizontally. A lot of women feel alienated towards working in male-dominated occupations and branches, and some experience barriers to reaching higher positions that currently are held by men. The importance of sex seems to be most prominent among women in less sex labeled professions that at times work in male dominated groups. These women end up in deviant positions that lead to greater visibility, being judged based on stereotypes of sex and occupation as well as being in the contrast of the dominating culture of the group. The effects appear to be further enhanced by class, age and origin. Private relationships seem important even in work life and if a woman does not fit in to the prevailing stereotype of women, striving for a carrier rather than family, she is regarded as deviant. Origin seems to be most significant when the woman is born abroad and does not speak Swedish or the minority language Meänkieli, the mother tongue of many natives. This occurs to restrict labor market access and the opportunity for permanent employment. There are also indications that the importance of origin is reinforced by class. Meänkieli is used in informal settings by both white and blue collar workers but is, in formal settings, more frequently used by blue collar workers.