A master thesis from Aalborg University
The Dividual and Gendered Experiences of Polish Women in Denmark
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2023
Submitted on
2023-10-15
Pages
119 pages
Abstract
Immigration from Poland to Denmark remains a significant phenomenon even almost two decades after the country entered the European Union. This research seeks to unearth and highlight the experiences of Polish women who have migrated to Denmark, by promoting a more complete understanding of a sector of the migrant population that has been mostly ignored in the academic literature. Furthermore, this study aspires to deepen the understanding of Polish women’s migration, through a focus on experiences and family relations, which will showcase connections between personal feelings, duties or actions and building a life in a new country, by using a theory from a different area: Stratern’s concept of dividuality. The data for this project was collected through a series of in-person semi-structured interviews with Polish women living in and around the city of Copenhagen. Women who migrate from Poland to Denmark seem to follow a trajectory where the unity of the family, its safety and their ability to maintain close ties are prioritised. Mostly observed in the areas titled in this paper as “Polish Women as Family’’ and “Polish Women as Motherly Wives’’, women’s priorities seem to stem from gender roles learnt while growing up, especially in those of more advanced age. This, in turn, prepares them better for language learning and for career advancements. Once the initial lack of job offers is overcome, due to the lack of a migration structure, such as the one Polish men have access to through construction companies and similar.
Keywords
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