Care and gendered work in reception centers in Finland

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-10-2018-0192
• Date: 18 December 2019
• Pages: 166-180
• Published date: 18 December 2019
• Author: Marjut Jyrkinen,Maria Väkiparta,Anna-Maija Lämsä
• Subject Matter: HR & organizational behaviour,Employment law,Diversity,equality,inclusion

Care and gendered work in

reception centers in Finland

Marjut Jyrkinen and Maria Väkiparta

University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, and

Anna-Maija Lämsä

School of Business and Economics, Jyväskylä University, Jyväskylä, Finland

Abstract

Purpose –This paper focuses on how gendered processes of working life are (re)constructed and are also

challenged discursively in paid and volunteer care and work in reception centers. The purpose of this paper is

to show how caring work with asylum seekers can both enhance the traditional gender order and challenge it

through enabling men to have opportunities to care.

Design/methodology/approach –The data were produced through qualitative interviews among paid

workers and volunteers in reception centers, and analyzed through a discourse analysis approach.

Findings –Three discourses of care and work were identified: a discourse on solidarity and care; a discourse

on control and order; and a discourse on caring men. The findings show that traditional attitudes toward

gender are easily discerned in other cultures, but not as easily recognized in the everyday processes near at

hand. Gender order is retained through traditional roles, which also reflects conventional attitudes in a society

often seen as a model country for equality. However, change is possible, and one core issue is the need to

involve men in care work and caring in general.

Social implications –The findings can be applicable to the deconstruction of traditional gender order in

working life; to the disclosure of gendered xenophobia in work with asylum seekers, in particular through

dialogue with “Others”; and to the enabling of care by men.

Originality/value –Little previous research has been done on care in reception centers and care as a

gendered activity with value. In the future many countriesare likely to encounter increases in asylum seekers,

and therefore, intersections of gender and ethnicity are of importance in societies as regards migration, work

and care.

Keywords Work, Gender, Masculinities, Finland, Men, Asylum seekers, Care, Gender order,

Reception centers

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

Our paper addresses how gendered processes of working life are (re)constructed and are

also challenged discursively in paid and volunteer care and work in reception centers. Our

analysis reveals embedded gendered and racialized attitudes in Finnish society, although

Finland scores high in international evaluations on gender equality (for instance, World

Economic Forum, 2017). Many omissions relate to working life, care and caring. We argue

that the care of and work with “Others”can enhance a new understanding of care, which not

only includes women but men as well, thereby changing the gender order (Connell, 1987)

and diminishing xenophobia.

Manifold crisis and unrest in the Middle East, Afghanistan and the African region are

tightly connected to the colonial histories and neo-colonial abuses of the Global North and

West, and unequal globalization processes. Migration has intensified, and in recent years

also many Nordic countries have received remarkably more asylum seekers than ever

before. Neo-nationalism and right-wing populism have gained ground through neoliberal

austerity policies and cuts in social security in many countries like Finland (Keskinen, 2012;

Keskinen and Andreassen, 2017; see Bassel and Emejulu, 2018). Despite the fact that our

research addresses work in reception centers, our focus is not on questions concerning

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

An International Journal

Vol. 39 No. 2, 2020

pp. 166-180

© Emerald PublishingLimited

2040-7149

DOI 10.1108/EDI-10-2018-0192

Received 18 October 2018

Revised 31 May 2019

17 October 2019

Accepted 6 November 2019

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

https://www.emerald.com/insight/2040-7149.htm

The research is funded by Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland (292883).

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