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Downplaying difference? How ethnic minorities navigate discrimination in Norway (NAVIGATE)

Discrimination runs against the most fundamental values of modern societies. Even in egalitarian welfare states such as Norway, there is ample evidence of discrimination against ethnic minorities in hiring processes. However, there is an acute lack of knowledge about how ethnic minorities respond to and navigate this reality.

About the project

An interdisciplinary team of sociologists, social psychologists and economist will through an innovative combination of methodological approaches analyze self-selection processes at different stages of minorities’ career trajectories.

The project is organized in three work packages (WPs). Deploying qualitative and experimental data, WP1 focus on the job search phase, and explore the relationship between minorities physical appearance and what type of de-stigmatization strategies they deploy to avoid hiring discrimination.

Using quantitative data, WP2 focus on the transition between education and work, and explore if de-stigmatization strategies, such as changing to a Norwegian sounding surname, matter for minorities labor market outcomes.

Deploying qualitative and quantitative data, WP3 focus on the strategies ethnic minorities apply to navigate discrimination and subtle exclusion in the labor market.

Objectives

The primary aim of NAVIGATE is to generate knowledge about how ethnic minorities in Norway adjust their career preferences and behavior in response to anticipated discrimination at different stages of the career trajectory, from the job search phase, through the transition from education to work and throughout their labor market careers.

We aim to answer three overarching questions:

  • To what extent do ethnic minorities self-select into particular segments of the labor market to avoid discrimination?
  • Do they downplay racial and ethnic cues when applying for jobs, and how do they adapt to anticipated discrimination once they have secured a job?
  • To the extent that ethnic minority job seekers and employees attempt to cope with (the prospect of) discrimination, does it matter for their labor market outcomes?

Cooperation

The project is coordinated by the Institute for Social Research. The Work Research Institute (AFI) and the Centre for Study of Professions (SPS), Oslo Metropolitan University are also partners of the project. 

Financing

The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway. The total grant is NOK 12 000 000. 

Duration

2021 - 2025

Publications

  • Drange, Ida; Helland, Håvard & Hermansen, Are Skeie (2024). Unionization, licensure, and workplace variation in pay inequality between immigrants and natives. Socio-Economic Review. ISSN 1475-1461. doi: 10.1093/ser/mwad075.
  • Umblijs, Janis; Drange, Ida & Orupabo, Julia (2023). Ethnic Diversity and Firm Performance in Norway. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies. ISSN 2245-0157. 13(4), p. 39–66. doi: 10.18291/njwls.137274. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thiyagarajah, Mathushiga & Orupabo, Julia (2023). Å spille på norskhet for å få en sjans: Stigmahåndtering hos unge jobbsøkere med innvandrerbakgrunn. Søkelys på arbeidslivet. ISSN 1504-8004. doi: 10.18261/spa.40.3.2. Full text in Research Archive
  • Nadim, Marjan (2022). Eksplisitt rasisme til hverdags: Unge muslimers opplevelser av rasisme på nettet. In Døving, Cora Alexa (Eds.), Rasisme : Fenomenet, forskningen, erfaringene. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215063065. p. 333–348.
  • Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen (2022). Rasisme på norsk: Begreper og realiteter. In Døving, Cora Alexa (Eds.), Rasisme : Fenomenet, forskningen, erfaringene. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215063065. p. 25–41.
  • Andersson, Mette & Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen (2022). Rasisme og diskriminering. In Frønes, Ivar & Kjølsrød, Lise (Ed.), Det norske samfunn : bind 2. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISSN 9788205572300. p. 230–251.
  • Kunst, Jonas R.; Dovidio, John F.; Bailey, April & Obaidi, Milan (2022). The Way They Look: Phenotypic Prototypicality Shapes the Perceived Intergroup Attitudes of In- and Out-group Members. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. ISSN 0022-1031. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2022.104303.
  • Orupabo, Julia; Vassenden, Anders & Handulle, Ayan Abdi Mohamoud (2022). Å redde hvite folks ansikt : Ritualer og makt i rasialiserte situasjoner. In Døving, Cora Alexa (Eds.), Rasisme : Fenomenet, forskningen, erfaringene. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215063065. p. 318–332.
  • Kunst, Jonas R.; Kirkøen, Jannicke & Mohamdain, Onab (2022). Hacking attractiveness biases in hiring? The role of beautifying photo-filters. Management Decision. ISSN 0025-1747. doi: 10.1108/MD-06-2021-0747. Full text in Research Archive
  • Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen & Quillian, Lincoln (2021). Forbigående fenomen eller permanent virkelighet? Etnisk diskriminering i arbeidsmarkedet på tvers av tid, sted og generasjoner. Søkelys på arbeidslivet. ISSN 1504-8004. 38(3-4), p. 182–196. doi: 10.18261/issn.1504-7989-2021-03-04-02. Full text in Research Archive

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  • Orupabo, Julia & Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen (2024). Ambivalent mangfold? Jobbsøkeres oppfatning av bedrifters mangfoldstiltak.
  • Orupabo, Julia & Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen (2023). Norsk, og diskriminert på jobb – personlige historier og ambisjoner for norsk arbeidsliv.
  • Orupabo, Julia (2023). Nedtone forskjellighet for å lykkes? Etniske minoriteter i arbeidsmarkedet.
  • Orupabo, Julia & Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen (2023). Rasisme og diskriminering i Norge. Kunnskapsstatus og nye perspektiver.
  • Umblijs, Janis & Hermansen, Are Skeie (2023). Can A New Name Open Closed Doors? Foreign-Sounding Names and Immigrant Earnings.
  • Drange, Ida (2023). Turn-over among ethnic minority professionals.
  • Orupabo, Julia & Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen (2023). Managing the racialized self: what minorities do to access the labour market.
  • Hermansen, Are Skeie & Umblijs, Janis (2023). Can A New Name Open Closed Doors? Foreign-Sounding Names and Immigrants’ Labor Market Careers.
  • Orupabo, Julia (2022). Etnisk mangfold og lønnsomhet.
  • Orupabo, Julia (2022). Drømmen om høyere utdanning: Innvandrerdriv, diskriminering og ønsker om anerkjennelse.
  • Orupabo, Julia; Vassenden, Anders & Handulle, Ayan Abdi Mohamoud (2022). Saving the white guys’ face: Unpacking the invisible labour behind non-responses to racial stigmatization.
  • Nadim, Marjan (2022). Norsk eller ikke norsk? - Å være norsk rommer mye mer i dag enn før. [Newspaper]. Avisa Oslo.
  • Nadim, Marjan (2022). Making Sense of Hate: Young Muslims’ understandings of online racism in Norway.
  • Nadim, Marjan (2022). Making Sense of The Extreme: Young Muslims’ understandings of online racism.
  • Nadim, Marjan (2022). Making Sense of Hate: Young Muslims’ understandings of online racism in Norway.
  • Orupabo, Julia (2022). Hva er et interseksjonelt perspektiv? .
  • Orupabo, Julia (2022). Å håndtere rasisme og diskriminering i arbeidsmarkedet.
  • Orupabo, Julia (2022). Rasismen påvirker selvforståelsen. [Radio]. Verdibørsen P2.
  • Orupabo, Julia & Nadim, Marjan (2021). Lønnsomt eller brysomt mangfold?
  • Nadim, Marjan (2021). Rasismens utbredelse.
  • Nadim, Marjan (2021). Rasismens konsekvenser.
  • Orupabo, Julia (2021). U/Synlig. Hverdagsrasisme i Norge.
  • Orupabo, Julia (2021). Spranget fra hvem som er rasist, til når, hvor og hvordan. Tidsskrift for samfunnsforskning. ISSN 0040-716X. 62(1), p. 116–120. doi: 10.18261/issn.1504-291X-2021-01-10. Full text in Research Archive

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Published Feb. 24, 2022 4:17 PM - Last modified Feb. 24, 2022 4:17 PM