The Experiences of Filipino Immigrant Women - Adjusting to Life in Sweden

Abstract: Female immigration is getting more and more common because of globalization and the rising demand for female workers. Women's experiences of integration often have its foundations in officials', authorities', and society's perspective, which is why it is vital to get a deeper understanding of the women's personal experiences. Thus, the objective of this study is to examine how different dimensions play out in Filipino immigrant women's integration and to investigate Filipino immigrant women's experiences of living and working in Sweden. Furthermore, definitions of equality of opportunity are explored. The data has been collected through 15 semi-structured qualitative interviews. Using Berry’s acculturation theory and Crenshaw’s intersectionality theory as analytical tools, findings showed that Filipino immigrant women face double discrimination in the Swedish labour market. Furthermore, findings showed that additional factors such as marital status, children or pregnancy, education, and gender ideology impact how the women experience life in Sweden. Filipino immigrant women perceive language as a crucial route to integration while the language barrier among loss of social support and discrimination is a significant stressor in the acculturation process.