Gray Racialization of White Immigrants: The Polish Worker in Norway

Abstract

The literature on racialization has typically focused on the situation of people of color in the Western world. In this article, we explore the analytical value of extending the concept of racialization to analyze symbolic boundaries that rely on and fortify the ascription of the specific skills and identities of white immigrants. The discussion builds on a review of the emerging literature on Polish immigrants in Norway since 2004. It reveals other everyday experiences of Poles and how they see themselves -and how others see them -differently compared to Norwegians and other immigrants and minorities. We examine how these processes of identity ascription are rooted in the Poles' position as 'labor migrants' in predominantly low-waged and low-skilled segments of the Norwegian labor market. We also demonstrate how their location in the productive structure has far-reaching implications that work to construct symbolic boundaries, setting the Polish migrant apart from mainstream Norwegian society. The conclusion suggests a modified racialization concept, 'gray racialization', to conceptualize the discriminatory situation of the Poles as an immigrant and minority population, which we find to better allow for an understanding of power relations and social inequalities than its conceptual alternatives.

Differentiated Borders of Belonging and Exclusion: European Migrants in Rural Areas in Iceland

“…Our data, then, expand on Consterdine's (2023) findings that migrants' experiences of the labour market are affected by social hierarchies in that we examine other aspects of social belonging and inclusion. Information from interviews also demonstrates that the hierarchies are internalized by migrants, so are maintained not only by institutional forces (Andersson & Rye, 2023).…”

“…The erasure (Gal & Irvine, 2019) occurs because Icelanders espouse a belief in a close cultural and social bond with others from the Nordic region. In contrast, those from Eastern European countries are considered to be more "foreign," as has been found elsewhere in Europe (Andersson & Rye, 2023;Krivonos, 2023). But migrants from Eastern Europe are not considered to be a homogeneous group, as differentiation and distinctions are drawn between the better known, "less foreign" Poles and people from the new origin locations, in Icelandic history that is, of Bulgaria and Romania, who are "more foreign."…”

“…Recent literature on the differentiation and othering of East European migrants in Western Europe has demonstrated that they are subject to similar processes (Andersson & Rye, 2023;Krivonos, 2023).…”

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“…These values and actions allude to the need to entrench human rights and collectively they should lead to the creation of conditions that ensure all citizens, irrespective of racial and cultural backgrounds are able to participate fully in society. However, in practice people from minority backgrounds (minorities) experience exclusion, discrimination and racism which is at odds with the egalitarian foundations of many institutions (Andersson & Rye, 2023;Andersson & Midtbøen, 2022;Andersson, 2022). Statistical trends and research show that some groups experience exclusion and discrimination because of gender, ethnicity, race, religion, and sexual orientation across the world.…”

“…Social exclusion and discrimination of minorities in different markets is well documented across many countries (Andersson & Rye, 2023;Andersson & Midtbøen, 2022;Andersson, 2022). Social inclusion on the other hand is a process intended to respond to the rights and needs of the diversity of all people in society by increasing their participation, reducing social exclusion from sectors of society including education and employment UNESCO (2013).…”