Marked on the voice: the visibility experiences of Russian heritage migrants following the war against Ukraine

Abstract

Abstract Identities fundamental to the self, such as race and gender, can operate through visual markers on the body. Identities related to a person’s heritage, or nationality, can also become visible. However, when physical appearance means that a person can pass as a member of a dominant group, being identified or ‘marked’ as other takes place through language use. In migration contexts, situations where a person’s heritage or nationality is revealed can lead to experiences of vulnerability. This study investigated the experiences of five Russian-speaking women living in Sweden whose migrant backgrounds were not visibly noticeable, up until the point that interaction was initiated. Interviews were carried out in the summer of 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Data was analysed using a double hermeneutic approach. Findings revealed how, following the outbreak of the war, the fear of becoming visible increased. Fears of exposure triggered vigilant behaviours, and an experience of needing to regulate visibility. Results show how the experience of having situational control over visibility could buffer against emotional pain caused by perceptions of negative positionings, and the risk of prejudicial treatment.