“Immigrant.” What comes to your mind when you hear that word? Perhaps you think of “unfamiliar,” or “different.” In the media migration is often connotated negatively. A study by the School for Communication and Journalism confirms that TV portrayals of immigrants are mostly negative and affect viewers’ attitudes towards them. Immigrants are assumed to be poor, uneducated, and unable to speak the native language of the country they came to. But this image is merely one side of a much more nuanced story.
According to the Swiss Federal Office for statistics, more than every third person in Switzerland has a migratory background. Therefore, Switzerland and its economy are heavily influenced by migration. A lot of people from foreign countries come here to find work.
It is common knowledge that more female immigrants than Swiss women work in low-wage occupations such as nursing, sales, and catering. Studies by the SFO confirm this. Labour shortages can be alleviated through immigration — especially in the event of rapid economic upswings. Immigration helps to steady the economy, as there are more workers at disposition.
However, many people do not realise that immigrants are more likely to be affected by disqualification than Swiss citizens, as shown in research carried out at the University of Berne in 2007 Disqualification means that they cannot find any work suited for their qualification and as a result must work in a different field. This is also called «brain waste», as they cannot use nor apply their knowledge to its full extent. So, even though they are highly educated, they cannot find work that suits their level of education and must opt for lower wage jobs. This is particularly true for women, who tend to experience even greater hurdles in the job market, as research published in the International Journal of Intercultural Research has confirmed.
Despite these barriers, immigrant women work in many areas of the job market and earn their own incomes. Their work ranges from care-work to highly qualified positions like CEOs of companies.
I spoke to 10 immigrant women who live in Switzerland and work in highly qualified, mostly management, positions. They come from different countries in Europe. The age at which they came to Switzerland ranged from 24 to 35. When asked why they came to Switzerland, 50% moved because of a job opportunity or studies and approximately 50% moved because of family reasons. Regardless of the reason, they all came to be working in highly qualified positions. When asked if they would still decide to come live in Switzerland if they had the possibility to go back and rethink their moving here, all answered yes. Likewise, they all confirmed that Switzerland lived up to the expectations of a better career life than in their country of origin. These women are a perfect example of a lot of female immigrants who came to Switzerland with an excellent education and now work in respectable positions. These women tend to be overlooked, hidden behind the negative stereotypes.
I interviewed Marina Richter, an academic at the University of Fribourg specialising in Geography and Sociology who has written articles for the Federal Migration Commission. She is the author of a research report concerning the impact of female immigrants and their potential. When asked about the perception of female immigrants in society she said: “I think a lot of work could be done on that image. We often talk about deficits, but you can also turn it around. In reality, they actually bring a lot with them, maybe we are just not able to integrate their skills and knowledge. They have made a substantial difference, but it is just not on the radar.”
Furthermore, studies by the SFO show that, contrary to the prevailing stereotypes, female immigrants are on average better educated than Swiss women. Additionally, there are significantly more female immigrants in leading positions (22%) than Swiss women (15%). Moreover, studies reveal that female immigrants in general earn more than Swiss women, which is partially explained by the fact that they work more.
Indeed, Switzerland has long been influenced by female immigrants, who have had a significant impact on the economy. Simultaneously, migration to Switzerland is often seen as a chance for emancipation for women. In the past, Switzerland was one of the first countries to admit women to higher education, and as a result many young female immigrants moved to Switzerland.
However, this history has not changed the dominant image of an immigrant in Swiss society. How can this image be improved? When asked this important question, Marina Richter answered: “One must approach it on various levels. The job market is a reflection of the degree to which immigrants are recognised and accepted in society. For example, in job interviews, the image in people’s minds plays a crucial role. Changing this image means a long social process.”
It is important to make clear that immigrants are a diverse group. They work in all kinds of jobs, some more visible and some less. Most of us do not realise just how dependent our whole society is on foreign workers.
