Diskriminering av kvinnliga polska migranter i Storbritannien: en kvalitativ intervjustudie av diskriminering och stigmatisering i ljuset av Brexit

Abstract

This bachelor thesis investigates experiences of discrimination among Polish female migrants working in Great Britain in jobs that do not correspond to their degrees and qualifications from Poland. The overarching question is; What experiences do female Polish migrants have of discrimination and stigmatization on the grounds of ethnicity and gender, and what implications do these experiences have? This question is explored through ten semi-structured interviews, collected in Great Britain. This study focuses on women in order to explore the theoretical framework of relevance for this thesis analyzing ethnic penalties in the labour-market and the role of double discrimination highlighted by intersectional theory. The results demonstrate experiences of discrimination and stigmatization based on ethnicity as well as gender are commonplace within this particular group and moreover, that gender impacts the forms that discrimination or stigmatization takes. The experience of external discrimination e.g. by the majority society of polish female migrants has consequences for interviewees and produces strong negative feelings but also generates internal discrimination and stigmatization within the Polish group in Great Britain. This study has been conducted in the light of the EU referendum and the Brexit- negotiations and its results point towards ensuing negative experiences of discrimination and stigmatization of Polish migrants that restricts their opportunities on the British labor market in the light of Brexit.