This report is based on student research conducted in Berlin universities. The research’s main theme is the notion of “Migrant women” into two different categories: Non-EU and EU citizen women. Main objective is to find if these women faced any discrimination in academia and beyond (i.e. daily lives etc.) depending on their country of origin. Therefore, the main research question of this student-based research is: “What is the perception of foreign women in German academia and beyond?”.
The theoretical framework is built upon the intersectionality principle, international migration theories, and gendered organisations (in relation to migration). Intersectionality is the core theoretical framework of the research. The main expectation is that migrant women face discrimination in academia and beyond. Furthermore, the discrimination’s expectation is to find differences between countries (non-EU vs EU).
In order to grasp the nuances of such research, a qualitative interview method was chosen and conducted with a semi-structured schema. The qualitative interviews enlightened important connections between the notion of gendered organisations, racism, as well as the notion of “migrant women”. As the key findings, the expectations were met with exceptional cases: Migrant women tend to face more discrimination when they are from non-EU countries. These exceptional cases and the expected findings direct the newer and different areas of the research with an emphasis on intersectionality research.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Literature Review and Theories
- 2.1. Intersectionality
- 2.2. Migration Theories
- 2.3. Women in Migration
- 3. Methodology
- 4. Results and Discussion
- 5. Conclusion
- References
- Appendix
Objective & Key Themes
This student-based research aims to explore the perception of foreign women in German academia and beyond, specifically investigating whether non-EU and EU citizen women experience discrimination based on their country of origin in academic and daily life settings.
- Discrimination experiences of migrant women in academia and daily life.
- Comparative analysis between non-EU and EU citizen women.
- Application of the intersectionality principle as a core theoretical framework.
- Exploration of international migration theories and gendered organizations.
- Qualitative research method using semi-structured interviews.
- Focus on female Master's and PhD students in Berlin universities.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Intersectionality
The term “intersectionality” was first coined by sociologist Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989. Being an African American (AA), she saw the emergence of African American women's needs in terms of different identities. While one identity tends to be viewed by another, the term allowed more inclusiveness into academic thinking. As “intersectionality was inclusive by design; it focused on how intersections along axes of identity reinforced marginalization” (As Al-Faham et al., p. 248).
Mentioning discrimination and intersectionality, it should also be noted that sometimes we might not know what the problem arises. For example, being a migrant woman has two identities: migrant and woman. When there is a discrimination towards this woman, there might be a case where the one identity of ‘woman' is brought more to the front than the other identity (in this case 'migrant'). Crenshaw suggests that discrimination can come from different realms and sometimes it can come from all of the identities. She calls the discrimination of all identities as "double discrimination”. Double discrimination can have similarities with other people who "share" this identity. As Crenshaw writes:
“Black women sometimes experience discrimination in ways similar to white women's experiences; sometimes they share very similar experiences with Black men. Yet often they experience double-discrimination—the combined effects of practices which discriminate on the basis of race, and on the basis of sex. And sometimes, they experience discrimination as Black women—not the sum of race and sex discrimination, but as Black women.” (Crenshaw, 1989, p. 149).
Intersectionality allows us to see the different identities, where they overlap, intersect, and come into being. “The implications of intersectionality as an academic tool create an additional layer of complexity to traditional modes of inquiry within disciplines. As an instrument for scholars, intersectionality can engage in critical praxis but may not necessarily do so” (Al-Faham, et al., 2019, p. 251). With the development of the awareness of intersectionality, academia benefits from it as well. “Scholars now recognize that gender, race, and class intersect and interlock into complex forms of inequality and social relationships” (Windsong, 2018, p. 135).
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the growing importance of gender research in academia, highlights the role of intersectionality, and outlines the research gap concerning migrant women students in German academic contexts.
2. Literature Review and Theories: This section delves into the foundational theories guiding the research, specifically detailing the principle of intersectionality, various international migration theories, and the particular insights on women's positionality within migration studies.
3. Methodology: This chapter describes the qualitative research method employed, involving semi-structured interviews with female Master's and PhD students, and explains the data collection and analysis techniques used.
4. Results and Discussion: This section presents and discusses the empirical findings from the interviews, analyzing how intersecting identities of gender, nationality, and social class influence experiences of discrimination and challenges in German academia and daily life.
5. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the main findings regarding discrimination patterns, emphasizes the financial disparities between non-EU and EU women, and suggests future research directions while highlighting the limitations of the current study.
Keywords
Gender, German Academia, Intersectionality, Migration, EU vs non-EU, Migrant Women, Discrimination, Qualitative Research, Semi-structured Interviews, Academic Challenges, Foreign Women, Country of Origin, Social Class, Gendered Organizations, Berlin Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the basic topic of this work?
This work fundamentally explores the experiences of foreign women, specifically non-EU and EU citizens, regarding discrimination in German academia and their daily lives.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central thematic areas include gendered experiences, international migration, intersectionality, discrimination based on country of origin, and challenges faced by female students in a foreign academic environment.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The primary objective is to determine if migrant women face discrimination in academia and beyond based on their country of origin, with the main research question being: “What is the perception of foreign women in German academia and beyond?".
Which scientific method is used?
A qualitative interview method, specifically semi-structured interviews, was chosen to gather nuanced insights into the participants' experiences.
What is covered in the main part?
The main part covers the theoretical framework, including intersectionality and migration theories, the methodology of the study, and a detailed analysis of the results and discussions based on interview data, focusing on discrimination and challenges faced by migrant women.
What keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by keywords such as Gender, German Academia, Intersectionality, Migration, EU vs non-EU, Migrant Women, and Discrimination.
What are the key findings regarding discrimination between non-EU and EU women?
The research found that migrant women from non-EU countries tend to face more discrimination, particularly financial, and that differences between non-EU and EU citizens are primarily financial, with some exceptions based on family background.
How does language proficiency influence discrimination experiences in this study?
The study highlights that a lack of German language skills is a significant barrier to finding relevant employment and can contribute to experiences of discrimination, affecting both EU and non-EU citizens.
What role does "biological race" play in the experiences of discrimination according to the findings?
The study suggests that the notion of "biological race" is still prevalent in German society and academia, with some participants noting worse treatment for individuals with darker complexions or those who "don't look German."
What are the study's limitations and suggested future directions for research?
The study is limited by its small sample size (8 women from 8 different countries). Future research should involve a larger, more diverse sample, and further discourse analysis in relation to racism and discrimination, utilizing intersectionality theory, critical race theory, and feminist theories.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Özden Bulutbeyaz (Autor:in), 2024, Gendered Understanding in Academia and Beyond. A Comparative Analysis Study of Non-EU and EU Citizen Women, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1597117
