Responding to Ethnicity-Based Stigmatisation: The Case of Russian-Speaking Women in Estonia

Abstract

This article examines how ethnic minorities negotiate ethnicity-based boundaries and deal with stigmatisation. This is exemplified by the case of the Russianspeaking women in Estonia. To arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of expressions of ethnicity and responses to stigmatisation, we follow an intersectional approach, considering how constructions of ethnicity and reactions to stigmatisation are gendered. This study adds a gender dimension to understanding belonging and the discursive construction of group boundaries by minority groups. We use the 'equalisation strategies' framework developed by Lamont and Bail (2007) to understand how a specific group of Russian-speaking women in Estonia attempt to establish themselves as equal with dominant ethnic groups. Our findings illuminate how, in the Estonian context, claims of belonging can be made and seen as legitimate on the basis of ethnicity rather than stemming from and linked to the discourses of citizenship or civil rights.

Appearance-based discrimination against young women in the workplace

“…Although in this case the rationalisation offered can be regarded as a means of legitimising appearance-based discriminatory behaviour within the organisation, the undervaluation of the demand for legality in the situation is likely to have been based on the normalisation of unethical practices embedded in societal-level institutionalisation (Ojasoo, 2016). This interpretation is further supported by other research findings, which indicate that Estonian employers tend to be unaware of the legislation prohibiting discrimination during the recruitment process (Aavik et al. , 2020; Täht, 2019; Turk et al.…”

“…, 2015). Furthermore, awareness of the role and impact of stereotypes related to, for example, appearance in the recruitment process is low and employers tend not to use measures to reduce discrimination in the process (Aavik et al. , 2020; Täht, 2019).…”

“…(2015) pointed out that most employers in Estonia do not see any point in promoting equality. Both Täht (2019) and Aavik et al. (2020) argued that little has changed at the workplace level in Estonia to advance equality over the past 30 years.…”

Ethnic minority women in the Serbian academic community

“…It may also be noted that, in Europe, feminist scholarship has been focused on Roma women (Kóczé and Popa, 2009;Vincze, 2014), but scant attention and scholarly debate has addressed the gender-based differences among sub-state minorities (Kymlicka, 2007), who, due to political turbulence and the border changes mainly of the twentieth century, became ethnic minorities in Europe. One piece of research about sub-state ethnic minority women was undertaken in Estonia by Aavik (2015), who investigated the positions of Russian-speaking women on the labor market in Estonia. Aavik found that the awareness of ethnic belonging of the latter was much stronger than their gender awareness, and that they occupied the lowest paid positions on the Estonian labor market.…”

“…This more frequent highlighting of issues connected to race/ethnicity and gender (Brown and Gershon, 2017) suggests an awareness of intersectional identities. Other studies imply that ethnic minority women are more aware of their ethnic identity than their gender (Aavik, 2015;Morrison et al, 1987).…”