In the new white paper by Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities, diversity researchers and professionals share practical insights into diversity dilemmas, ranging from migration and integration to care for the elderly and sport.
‘Progress is slow, but knowledge is gradually taking hold.’ This is the observation of Ira van der Zaal from the Ministry of Justice and Security and Marlou Schrover, professor emeritus of Economic and Social History at Leiden University. Each from their own perspective, they are striving to ensure that knowledge informs (migration) policy, and they have noticed, for example, a growing focus on labour migration.
Learning more from the past
Even though there is still a disproportionate amount of attention focused on asylum migration. The two experts note that the media do tend to focus heavily on the negative – paying more attention to protests surrounding asylum centres than to examples of successful integration of asylum centres into local communities. We can learn much more from the past than we currently do, Schrover emphasises. For instance, she is surprised that repatriation grants are being considered again – they didn’t work in the 1980s and 90s either.
Research as a bridge between science and policy
LDE’s eighth white paper stems from the ‘Dilemmas of Doing Diversity’ research programme within the National Research Agenda (NWA). Researchers from Leiden University, Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam are collaborating on the project with professionals from the worlds of policy and practice.
By linking scientific insights with experiences from local authorities, healthcare organisations, residents’ initiatives and social institutions, the programme aims to contribute to better-informed policy on diversity and inclusion.
Care for the elderly
Now that the first generation of migrant workers are growing old and in need of care, a range of dilemmas are arising regarding care for elderly migrants. Diagnosing Alzheimer’s in someone who, due to language or cultural barriers, does not understand a test question about scooters and bicycles makes diagnosis more difficult, explains social care worker Kadriye Sahin-Ozogul. On the other hand, researcher Nina Conkova says of care homes: ‘You don’t even need to speak the language, as long as people feel your empathy, feel that you are there for them, that you are kind. People can sense that.’ Making assumptions about target groups – for example, that older migrants necessarily do not want to go into a care home or that this is taboo – is counterproductive.
A civil servant in tears on the phone
Project leader Carla Delgado Swiatkowski and ethnographic researcher Lieke van der Veer see many worthwhile residents’ initiatives come to nothing, as if they were square pegs that simply won’t fit through a triangular hole. The council is then unable to provide funding, however much a civil servant might want to. ‘I recently had a civil servant on the phone who was almost in tears,’ says Delgado. ‘The council thinks in silos and initiative organisers think in terms of neighbours.’ For initiatives worth a few thousand euros, a much higher amount is sometimes wasted on meetings. Yet it doesn’t really have to be complicated: ‘If we invest in getting to know one another and talking to one another, living together can be so wonderful.’
A square piece in a triangular hole
Single parents too – often mothers of colour – sometimes feel like square pegs that won’t fit into a triangular hole. They are pushed by policymakers towards paid work. And they do want to work, but they simply don’t have the time.
The 1Ouderpunt Foundation offers these women empowerment, but policy and practice have been at odds for decades. The Surinamese-Dutch feminist collective Ashanti identified these issues as early as 1980. The government continued to stubbornly implement policies that primarily suited traditional nuclear families, whilst tailored solutions are needed.
Traces of the colonial past
The colonial past is still strikingly present in our society today, according to historian Suzan Abozyid. We view other groups as inferior, and this has been evident in our integration policies both in the past and today. Groups of newcomers are expected to adapt extensively to our way of life. The solution is actually simple, according to local government official Raphaël Boon: ‘We need a shift from you must adapt to how are we going to do this together?’
Across Generations
The various generations of migrants now living in our country are also affected by colonial thinking. Researcher Lara Fizaine says: ‘In the colonial past, the rituals and traditions of other peoples were not tolerated.’ We still have that tendency, but it is very beneficial if older people are able to express traditions and rituals from their culture and pass them on to younger generations. So says Thérese Nleng of the Network of Organisations of Older Migrants.
The queer community: stories over statistics
A company takes part in Pride, but its employees don’t know where to report discrimination. Or a charity campaigns for gay rights, but against migrants. Researcher Andrew Shield: ‘I think policymakers need to listen more to people from civil society, who hear first-hand accounts of diversity dilemmas.’ If you want to develop policy on housing for queer asylum seekers, it’s easy to gather quantitative data: how many queer asylum seekers are there, and what percentage of them complain about their housing? But qualitative data can teach us much more. The story of a single queer migrant can sometimes offer more insight than a statistic.’
Sport doesn’t always bring people together
Sport connects people, improves health and brings people together. Or does it? Experts Agnes Elling of the Mulier Institute and researcher Kay Mars believe these are problematic assumptions. The more positive the narrative surrounding sport, the easier it is for structural inequalities to be overlooked. We take some forms of difference for granted – such as age or physical disabilities – but immediately view others as sensitive or suspect.
For instance, politicians and civil servants in The Hague have wrongly dismissed an initiative for a weekly hour of women’s swimming as something intended for one specific group: Orthodox Muslim women. Mars: ‘And even if it were mainly for Muslim women: why would that be a bad thing? There are also separate swimming sessions for other groups, such as the elderly or parents with young children.’
Don’t make policy about people, but with them
Mars’ conclusion, which certainly applies beyond the realm of sports policy: ‘You cannot fully map out inclusion on paper in advance. And perhaps most importantly: don’t make policy just about people, but with them. Involve the various target groups you have in mind when developing policy.’ Elling also has a piece of advice that many policymakers would do well to take to heart: invest in long-term relationships and trust rather than in short-term projects.
About the white paper
The white paper Dilemmas of Diversity – Diversity Policy and Practice contains eight dialogues between sixteen experts from academia, government and civil society organisations on current issues. The publication is intended for policymakers, administrators, professionals and anyone working on inclusive public services and social participation.
The publication (written in Dutch) is available for download via the link below.
More information
Would you like to receive a printed copy of the white paper (written in Dutch)? Send an email to Katja Hoiting form Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities alliance: k.hoiting@tudelft.nl
