Learning through social spaces: migrant women and lifelong learning in post‐colonial London

Abstract

This article shows how migrant women engage in learning through social spaces. It argues that such spaces are little recognised, and that there are multiple ways in which migrant women construct and negotiate their informal learning through socialising with other women in different informal modes. Additionally, the article shows how learning is shaped by the socio‐political, geographical and multicultural context of living in London, outlining ways in which gendered and racialised identities shape, construct and constrain participation in lifelong learning. The article shows that one way in which migrant women resist (post)colonial constructions of difference is by engaging in informal and non‐formal lifelong learning, arguing that the benefits are (at least) two‐fold. The women develop skills (including language skills) but also use their informal learning to develop what is referred to in this article as ‘relational capital’. The article concludes that informal lifelong learning developed through social spaces can enhance a sense of belonging for migrant women.

Notes

1. Definitions of ‘migrant’ will be discussed later in this article.

2. ESRC RES‐148‐25‐0022 Intersecting identities: Women’s spaces of sociality in post‐ colonial London.

3. AWG: Asian Women’s Group

BC01: Book club 1

BC02: Book club 2

BC03: Book club 3

CLKG: Central London knitting group

KQKG: Klick Queer knitting group

NLKG: North London knitting group

SSG: Social support group