HS Home 19.3.2002 - Research indicates immigrants troubled by discrimination

By Ilona Haahtela

Some 43% of immigrants to Finland have experienced insults or other problems arising from their foreign background, for example in the street, on public transport, and in public places. These are among the findings of a recent questionnaire survey, the results of which have been published in a book entitled Rasismi ja syrjintä Suomessa (Racism and Marginalisation in Finland).

According to the study, half of all those immigrants seeking employment have found themselves the victim of marginalisation in this area, too.

One in three reported having been the victim of a racially-motivated or racist offence in the previous 12 months. Half of these offences took the form of verbal abuse, and 19% were physical threats.

In the great majority of cases, however, the immigrants concerned did not see fit to report the offence or the discrimination to the police, as they believed that their complaint would go uninvestigated. Often they also felt that the offence was not worthy of involving the authorities.

The experiences of marginalisation

felt by immigrants influence their spiritual wellbeing. The more they have a sense of inequality and intolerance towards them, the more likely it is that there will also be evidence of anxiety, depression, and psychosomatic symptoms, according to the study.

There were considerable variations in the sentiments expressed by different ethnic groups. For example, Somalis and Arabs felt discrimination in their surroundings more than all other minorities put together.

Russians, Estonians, and immigrants of Finnish ethnic background had an easier time.

The material for the study

was collected from around 3,600 respondents to the questionnaire, drawn from seven different ethnic groups.

The results show a weighting towards the largest groups of immigrants in Finland, namely Russians, Estonians and the so-called “returnees” - Ingrians of Finnish extraction.

Other groups taking part included Kosovar Albanians, Arabs, Vietnamese, and Somalis.

The book, compiled by Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti, Karmela Liebkind, and Tiina Vesala, is based on the research report, which itself is a part of a wider project on the development of theoretical and methodological approaches to the subject of discrimination and its effects in society.

The project is being carried out as part of a programme funded by the Academy of Finland, entitled “Marginalisation, Inequality and Ethnic Relations in Finland”. A link to this programme, which carries the Finnish title SYREENI, is given below.

Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 16.3.2002