Inequality and Promotion in Immigration Countries. Stratification of Female and Male Refugees in the Context of Activating Integration Policies

Abstract

"Western immigration countries stratify refugees according to their residence status. This status determines their access to social and political rights and the degree of residence security. To move up within this civic stratification, certain groups of refugees increasingly have to prove integration efforts. Governments thereby implement the activation paradigm of demanding and supporting in their integration policy, such as in the German integration act. Since 2016, accepted refugees receive a permanent residence permit only if, among other obligations, they have sufficient German language skills and provide for most of their livelihood. Focusing on the legal target groups, we question whether women have fewer chances to meet the requirements than men do. Based on the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees 2016 to 2018, we show that women, especially mothers, achieve the required German language competencies less often than men do. Furthermore, they have a significant lower employment probability. For wives, their spouses can support them in providing for their livelihood, although dependencies thereby increase. For women living without a spouse and mothers, chances to move up within the civic stratification so far are lower than for men. In respect of these women, the risk of indirect institutional discrimination exists." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Fendel, T. & Schreyer, F. (2022): Ungleichheit und Aufstieg in der Einwanderungsgesellschaft. Zur Stratifizierung geflüchteter Frauen und Männer im Kontext aktivierender Integrationspolitik. In: Soziale Welt, Vol. 73, No. 2, p. 266-308. DOI:10.5771/0038-6073-2022-2-266