Migrants in Emmeloord; A Study on Lived Experiences of Women at the Women s Center Noordoostpolder

Abstract

"Through the globalization of the world, the movement of goods, networks, and people has increased. Many countries not only enjoy the possibilities that are enabled through these constructions but are also challenged by them. This thesis focuses on two main topics, namely migration and citizenship. The research took place at a Women s center in Emmeloord, capital of the Noordoostpolder, which lies in the province of Flevoland in the Netherlands. Emmeloord would become the foodshed of the Netherlands. Emmeloord was the promised land for agriculture and attracted many farmers and agricultural companies. It was also the hotspot for seasonal workers who were very often labor migrants from outside the Netherlands. Today Emmeloord is a multicultural society of 26.000 citizens with a Women s center. This center was initially established in 2007 by the initiative of a few women working in the healthcare sector. Their goal was to provide a safe meeting place for migrant women who experienced psychosomatic complaints as a result of their isolated social situation. A few migrant women joined this initiative. In this thesis, there will be no generalization on how women with a migration background experience citizenship, but an individual approach where every case will be analyzed separately. Throughout the thesis, the different challenges women, in particular, face in their daily encounters as migrants in Emmeloord but also the opportunities they gain through migration will be discussed. Through the application of different theories on citizenship, gender, and migration, the thesis will analyze the notion of citizenship in the lives of women with a migration background in Emmeloord."