Mer än bara språket: En kvalitativ studie av ett lokalt integrationsprojekt

Sammanfattning: During the last decades there has been an increase of the housing segregation in Sweden. According to research this is mainly due to greater economic inequality and increased immigration. In Sweden there are a number of neighbourhoods with low socioeconomic standards that are mostly inhabited by immigrants, in these areas women are a particularly vulnerable group. Research states that learning the native language is a key factor in achieving integration. The aim of this study was to examine if and how a specific languagelearning activity for women in a local integration project promotes integration. The method chosen was ethnographical, which includes participant observation at two occasions and interviews with three participants plus the leader of the activity. The empirical data was analyzed with the help of Alberto Diaz theory of integration as a social phenomena and George Meads theory of symbolic interactionism. Thematic analysis was chosen as the processing method of data. Results showed that the activity promotes integration from several perspectives. For example, the activity focused on the spoken language and can be seen as a complement to the established language courses that immigrants are offered in Sweden, SFI. The participants thought it highly significant to learn the native language and showed great motivation in doing so, mainly as a means to establish themselves in the labour market. The structure of the activity was loose but also enabled some of the women to bring their children, which was a necessity for them to show up at all. The activity not only functioned as language education but also included information about the Swedish society and helped to improve the women’s self-confidence. It also created a sense of community and served as a place for social exchange.