Going on a Class Journey: The Inclusion and Exclusion of Iraqi Refugees in Denmark

Abstract

Focusing on the settlement of Iraqi women and their families in Copenhagen, this article explores how the intersections of social class relations, ethnicity and gender affect the inclusion and exclusion of Iraqi refugees in Danish society. Through the analysis of an extended case study, it pays special attention to the downward ‘class journey’ experienced by many of the women in the course of their settlement, and the discrimination they can face as immigrants and Muslims. The article argues that, while the women's participation in Iraqi Shi'a Muslim activities may appear to make up a form of continuity rooted in their ethno-religious background, their social networks are to a large extent a reflection of their new social positions in society. Moreover, the cross-section of factors such as social class, gender, ethnicity and local context not only affect the social position that the women acquire in society, but also how they experience and come to see the society in which they live. Finally, the article demonstrates the great impact that the organisation of the Danish welfare state has had on the trajectories of the social incorporation of Iraqi refugees in Denmark.