Integration, Inclusion and Belonging through Sports: migrant women in Finland
Namae, Caroline (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024051512369
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024051512369
Tiivistelmä
The primary aim of this research study was to explore the importance of sports on the inclusion, integration, and belonging of migrant women in Finland. Additionally, the study also sought to identify the factors that could potentially enhance their participation and involvement in sports and physical activities.
The study was conducted using the qualitative research approach with a semi-structured online survey questionnaire in English containing a mix of open and closed-ended questions. A total of 20 responses were collected from the questionnaire.
Thematic analysis was used to evaluate the questionnaire data by identifying common themes, patterns, and underlying meanings in the participant responses. The data was also effectively presented and summarised through graphical representations and descriptive statistics.
The research results show that engaging in sports improved migrant women’s physical health and mental well-being and enhanced their social connections, sense of belonging, inclusion, and integration into Finnish society.
This research study also discovered that migrant women face barriers in sports and physical activities in Finland which were based on three themes. The structural barriers included winter weather, limited financial resources, and distant sports facilities. The socio-cultural barriers such as cultural norms and values, discrimination and racism, and individual obstacles like family roles, language barrier, lack of experience, and lack of information about sports services and their advantages all impede migrant women from participating in physical activities.
In contrast to previous research findings, the study results in this research study reveal that sport has a positive impact on migrant women’s inclusion, integration, and sense of belonging in society. Although the study highlights the barriers that migrant women encounter, it suggests that more research is needed on this topic.
The study was conducted using the qualitative research approach with a semi-structured online survey questionnaire in English containing a mix of open and closed-ended questions. A total of 20 responses were collected from the questionnaire.
Thematic analysis was used to evaluate the questionnaire data by identifying common themes, patterns, and underlying meanings in the participant responses. The data was also effectively presented and summarised through graphical representations and descriptive statistics.
The research results show that engaging in sports improved migrant women’s physical health and mental well-being and enhanced their social connections, sense of belonging, inclusion, and integration into Finnish society.
This research study also discovered that migrant women face barriers in sports and physical activities in Finland which were based on three themes. The structural barriers included winter weather, limited financial resources, and distant sports facilities. The socio-cultural barriers such as cultural norms and values, discrimination and racism, and individual obstacles like family roles, language barrier, lack of experience, and lack of information about sports services and their advantages all impede migrant women from participating in physical activities.
In contrast to previous research findings, the study results in this research study reveal that sport has a positive impact on migrant women’s inclusion, integration, and sense of belonging in society. Although the study highlights the barriers that migrant women encounter, it suggests that more research is needed on this topic.