Grønlandske stemmer fra gaden og fængslet: En kvalitativ undersøgelse af, hvordan udsatte grønlænderes oplevelser af marginalisering i det danske samfund former deres livssituation, og hvordan dette kan føre til normafvigelse

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to obtain knowledge about how vulnerable Greenlander’s experience of marginalization shape their life situations within Danish society, and how these conditions may con tribute to deviant behaviour. Our interest in this field of research have emerged from previous pro jects, where we identified central themes related to the postcolonial relationship between Greenland and Denmark highlighting how experiences of marginalization and discrimination influence life sit uations. Furthermore, we have observed a notable lack of research regarding Indigenous Peoples in Denmark, which underlines the relevance of this thesis. This thesis is based on multi-sited ethnography with the empirical foundation consisting of 100 hours of fieldwork at three community shelters in Aalborg, along with two semi-structured interviews con ducted in a prison in Denmark. All informants are over the age of 18 and of Greenlandic origin. The thesis’ scientific theory is grounded in a hermeneutic perspective, applying an adaptive methodolog ical approach to analyse and contextualize our empirical material in relation to existing research and relevant orienting concepts. The thesis is designed as a single case study, with vulnerable Green lander’s experience of marginalization in Danish society seen as a case within the social phenomenon connected to Indigenous Peoples experiences of marginalization, particularly in relation to their en counters with the majority society. By employing orienting concepts, we seek to provide a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of vulnerable Greenlander’s life situations. Homi K. Bhabha’s conceptualization is applied to illumi nate how postcolonial relations between Greenland and Denmark continue to shape life situations. Additionally, two understandings of othering are applied to explain the creation of ‘the other’, both within the postcolonial relationship and internally within the vulnerable Greenlandic community. To further the understanding of othering Hakan Kalkan’s concepts of etnoracial- and territorial stigma contribute to understanding how social hierarchies are reproduced and maintained through visible and place-bound classifications. Furthermore, Johan Galtung’s understanding of violence is used to capture experiences of structural- and personal violence, illuminating encounters with public institu tions and internal conflicts. Travis Hirschi’s theory of social bonds is applied to explain the signifi cance of connections to conventional society in understanding deviant behaviour and criminality. Complementing this, John Irwin’s notion of the rabble class highlights experiences of criminalization and sanctioning by public authorities. Finally, different conceptualizations of subcultural theory are incorporated to explore how various forms of community and belonging manifest among vulnerable Greenlanders. Our findings are based on a comprehensive analysis of three overarching themes: Encounters with Danish society, Fellowship, and Deviant behaviour and crime. Based on this analysis, we found that postcolonial power dynamics between Greenlandic and Danish culture contributes to a process of othering, which manifests as etnoracial- and territorial stigma. This positions vulnerable Greenlanders as ‘the other’ and limits their access to resources, social relations, and participation in the majority society. This leads to life situations marked by marginalization, alcohol and substance abuse, and loneliness, where subcultural communities offer a sense of belonging but can also reinforce social vulnerability. Experiences of structural inequality, criminalization, and weakened social bonds reduce attachment to societal norms and institutions, thereby increasing the risk of deviant behaviour. Con sequently, deviance among vulnerable Greenlanders must be understood considering deeper social and structural conditions. However, this study also shows that trust-based relationships with profes sionals can enhance the experience of inclusion and counteract marginalization.

A master thesis from Aalborg University

Grønlandske stemmer fra gaden og fængslet: En kvalitativ undersøgelse af, hvordan udsatte grønlænderes oplevelser af marginalisering i det danske samfund former deres livssituation, og hvordan dette kan føre til normafvigelse

[Greenlandic voices from the streets and prison: A qualitative study of how vulnerable Greenlanders' experiences of marginalization in Danish society shape their life situations, and how this may lead to deviant behaviour]