Abstract
The article addresses the problem of “normalizing” migrants within a nation state by means of a gender system. The example of Russian immigrants in Norway shows how crossing a physical border moves people across different gender systems. In this transition migrants (re-)negotiate their gender identities and understandings of gender equality. At the same time, trying to integrate into the host society, they problematize the normalizing power of gender systems functioning in a particular society. The article is arranged in three parts starting with an overview of Russian migrants in Norway as a group. The second part describes different gender systems, which Russian immigrant couples cross. The third part shows how Soviet, Post-Soviet and Norwegian gender systems affect the experiences and expectations of Russian migrants in Norway and how gender intersects with nationality and a nation-state gender system. In conclusion, the potential for changing a nation-state gender system and integrating diversity is discussed.
Highlights
The bulk of the analysis examines how Soviet, Post-Soviet, and Norwegian gender systems affect the current experiences and expectations of Russian migrants in Norway, and how, in their discussions on gender equality, gender intersects with nationality and a nation-state gender system
It is Marina who notices that men in Norway take parental leave and bring babies for feeding to mothers who continue their studies at the University. Both female and male respondents mentioned that, unlike in Russia, men in Norway spent a great deal of time with children and family, and, because it is a general practice accepted in society, they do not look any less masculine to the Russian immigrant women and men, but are accorded appreciation and respect for it
In the context of Nordic countries, critical researchers have pointed out a sophisticated tendency in gender equality and ethnicity research to distance those countries’ pasts from historical colonialism, to stress the homogeneity of their societies, and to present Nordic countries as having achieved gender equality (Gullestad 2006; Siim 2007; Flemmen and Lotherington 2009; Mulinari et al 2009)
Summary
Like many western countries today, Norway is facing increased immigration flows. Acknowledging itself as a multinational country, it has had to reshape the language of democracy and immigration policy focusing on the inclusion of diversity. Even Norway is confronted with the equality/diversity dilemma when the inclusion of migrants comes up as an issue (Lotherington 2008). Taking the example of Russian immigrants in Norway, I show that when Russians cross the NorwegianRussian border, they move across different gender systems. In this transition process, Russian migrants (re)negotiate their identities, understandings of gender equality, femininity, and masculinity. This article starts with an overview of Russian migrants in Norway as a group and the way empirical data for this study of migrations and gender was collected and analysed and describes the different gender systems that Russian immigrant couples cross. 116 Natalia Kukarenko Whose Gender Equality Counts? The Case of Russian Migrant Couples in Norway
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