Epistemic Violence Toward Immigrant Women in Iceland: Silencing, Smothering, and Linguistic Deficit

Abstract

This paper is an examination of how stories shared as a result of the #metoo movement in Iceland exemplify aspects of how culture and institutions in Iceland are complicit in the silencing of immigrant women who experience violence, both in intimate partner and employment situations. Through

Feminist solidarity and hopeful imaginings in the MeToo movement in Iceland

“…Iceland's reputation as a frontrunner in equality is a source of national pride that establishes and maintains an aura of gender equality. Within this aura, people convince themselves that equality reigns despite structural evidence indicating otherwise (Pétursdóttir, 2009), as illustrated in the high prevalence of sexual violence (Snorradóttir et al, 2020) and institutional and systemic oppression of immigrant women (Kjaran and Halldórsdóttir, 2022).…”

“…For our purposes, it is significant to note that people identifying as women comprise almost half of all immigrants in Iceland, with the majority coming from Poland and the second largest group originating from the Philippines (Innflytjendur 15.5% íbúa landsins, 2021). There are reports of xenophobia (Eyþórsdóttir and Loftsdóttir, 2019) and evidence that people of foreign origin are excluded from society and its institutions based on their lack of knowledge of the Icelandic language (Kjaran and Halldórsdóttir, 2022). Kjaran and Halldórsdóttir (2022) argue that these systems of inequality further isolate and marginalise immigrant women as their voices are smothered.…”

“…There are reports of xenophobia (Eyþórsdóttir and Loftsdóttir, 2019) and evidence that people of foreign origin are excluded from society and its institutions based on their lack of knowledge of the Icelandic language (Kjaran and Halldórsdóttir, 2022). Kjaran and Halldórsdóttir (2022) argue that these systems of inequality further isolate and marginalise immigrant women as their voices are smothered. These experiences of inequality in the supposedly gender equal Iceland support the idea that the sufferings of immigrant women are caused by mindsets from the cultures they are considered to represent, rather than the oppressive elements of the culture they have moved to (Símonardóttir et al, 2021).…”

“…An exception here is the women of foreign origin, many of whom describe their experiences in the hospitality and service sector. Kjaran and Halldórsdóttir (2022) analyse how the testimonies from women of foreign origin describe institutional and systemic exclusion and oppression, among which 'language stood out as a significant issue in power relations ' (p. 355). In other words, women of foreign origin lack important resources such as the Icelandic language, which results in epistemic violence.…”