Gender-equal Norway, a reality for all? The views and experiences of immigrants

ABSTRACT

Norway is known to be among world leaders in gender equality and this is supported by increasing volumes of research in this field. However, there is sparse empirical evidence about the views and experiences of immigrants on gender equality. Consequently, this study sought to provide an ‘outsider’s perspective’ on gender equality by engaging with immigrants living in Norway. This study presents findings from in-depth interviews with 27 immigrants living in Stavanger, Norway on their views and experiences of gender equality. Data from the interviews were analysed based on the constructivist grounded theory approach. The study’s findings revealed that the participants perceived equal rights at home and in the workplace, through state policies and women’s independence, as major indications of gender equality. Although the study suggests that gender equality appears to flourish in Norway, multiculturalism and feminization emerged as challenges towards achieving gender equality in Norwegian society. To address these challenges, it is important for Norwegian society to acknowledge the existence of multiculturalism and engage with it appropriately.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender equality
• immigrants
• state policies
• integration
• Norway

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank professors Ingvil Førland Hellstrand and Lene Myong of the Centre for Gender Studies, University of Stavanger, for reading through the first draft of the manuscript and providing useful comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ebenezer Cudjoe

Ebenezer Cudjoe is a PhD student in Social Work with the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at City University of Hong Kong. His research interests broadly involve investigations concerned with promoting the wellbeing of children and their families. He has publications in the area of child protection, kinship care, inclusive education and out of home care. He has an MSc obtained from Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Experience through these countries formed the basis of the study.

James Nti-Gyeabour

James Nti-Gyeabour holds an Msc in Social Work and Welfare from three Nordic institutions including the University of Stavanger, Umeå University and Aalborg University. He has a special interest in gender equality in the Scandinavian region and is particularly concerned with the intersection between discourses of gender equality and other social variables like ethnicity, immigrant status, income and employment status.

Isaac Amoateng

Isaac Amoateng holds an Msc in Social Work and Welfare from three Nordic institutions including the University of Stavanger, Umeå University and Aalborg University. His primary area of research involves the experiences of foster care leavers in Denmark with the welfare state and how this promotes their independent living. He is also working towards the advancement of the voices of the immigrant population in Aalborg (Denmark).

Amos Atteh Tetteh

Amos Atteh Tetteh holds an Msc in Social Work and Welfare from three Nordic institutions including the University of Stavanger, Umeå University and Aalborg University. His research interests include the immigrants’ experiences of contact with Norwegian child welfare services, social work intervention in substance abuse and the study of the Nordic model as a distinct welfare system.