Migration Narratives of Filipino Migrants in Nuuk

Tanner, Angelika Julia

4. term

Culture, Communication and Globalization, Master

2024

2024-05-30

72

Dette speciale undersøger migrationsfortællinger og hverdagsoplevelser blandt filippinske migranter, der bor og arbejder i Nuuk, Grønland, i en tid hvor filippinske statsborgere udgør ca. 1,5 procent af Grønlands befolkning, og landet er afhængigt af udenlandsk arbejdskraft. Med en eksplorativ tilgang til et underbelyst emne bygger studiet på etnografisk feltarbejde i Nuuk med ni semistrukturerede, personlige interviews. En induktiv narrativ analyse, informeret af identitetsorienterede teorier, belyser, hvordan deltagerne opfatter og forhandler magtrelationer, kulturelle møder, sociale fællesskaber og sprog. Resultaterne peger på stærk handlekraft: Deltagerne flytter til Nuuk for at forfølge muligheder, der stemmer med deres prioriteringer—ofte familie—de engagerer sig i hjemskabelse og er åbne for fremtidige flytninger. De registrerer kulturelle forskelle, danner ind- og udgrupper ud fra kultur, oplever fraværet af et fælles sprog som en social barriere og arbejder aktivt på at tilegne sig lokalkendskab for at blive styrket i Nuuks samfund og på arbejdspladser. I et arbejdsmarked præget af arbejdskraftmangel skaber udviklingsmuligheder rammer, der kan begunstige filippinske tilflyttere; samtidig indtager de, i lyset af Grønlands relation til Danmark, en mindre privilegeret position end danske tilflyttere, om end nogle kulturelle barrierer synes lettere for dem at overkomme. Specialet lægger et grundlag for videre forskning i immigration i Grønland og giver indsigter til arbejdsgivere og offentlige myndigheder om filippineres erfaringer og udfordringer i Nuuk.

This thesis examines the migration narratives and everyday experiences of Filipino migrants living and working in Nuuk, Greenland, at a time when Filipino citizens make up about 1.5 percent of the population and the country relies on foreign labor. Addressing an under-researched topic with an exploratory approach, the study draws on ethnographic fieldwork in Nuuk, centered on nine semi-structured, in-person interviews. An inductive narrative analysis, informed by identity-oriented theories, explores how participants perceive and negotiate power relations, cultural encounters, social belonging, and language. Findings indicate strong agency: participants moved to Nuuk to pursue opportunities aligned with their priorities—often family—engage in home-making, and remain open to future mobility. They note cultural differences, delineate in- and out-groups based on culture, experience the lack of a common language as a social barrier, and work to acquire local knowledge to become empowered in Nuuk’s society and workplaces. In a labor market marked by workforce shortages, opportunities for development underpin their narratives and can advantage Filipino newcomers; at the same time, in light of Greenland’s relationship with Denmark, they occupy a less privileged position than Danish newcomers, even as some cultural barriers appear easier for them to overcome. The thesis provides a basis for future research on immigration in Greenland and offers insights for employers and public agencies into the experiences and challenges of Filipinos in Nuuk.

[This summary has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project (PDF)]

migration ; Filipinos ; Greenland ; Nuuk ; Arctic Studies

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