"I am not defined by how I look or where I am from" : An intersectional qualitative analysis about young women with immigrant background in Sweden and their views on identities

Abstract: There are several studies regarding immigrants in Sweden with focus on integration and their situation in the labour market. However, few studies have focused on people with immigrant background and their view on identity, and even fewer have focused on women. In this paper, the aim is to highlight how young women with immigrant background in Sweden choose to identify, explained through an intersectional perspective. The research is conducted through qualitative semi-structured interviews, containing a small group of eight women. The results were presented through four different themes: identify factors, society’s impact on identity, “Swedishness” and experiences and challenges. The results were analysed by using previous research and using intersectionality as the theoretical framework. The results showed that aspects such as family, culture and social environment were some of the factors that affected their identity. Furthermore, the majority of the respondents felt that society had a large impact on them and that society’s view of “Swedishness” plays a big role in their identity perception. Lastly, the respondents shared experiences and challenges that they encounter in the Swedish society, such as exotification and racism. Concluding this, it was found that societal structures contribute to the women’s experiences of discrimination and the challenges they face because of their multiple identities.