Purpose and Research Questions
This research project provides systematic knowledge about the consequences of ethnic discrimination for minorities’ choices and opportunities in the Norwegian labor market. Previous research on ethnic discrimination has offered important insights into employers’ decisions and attitudes. But what are the consequences for those who are potentially affected by discrimination? How do individuals with minority backgrounds handle experiences of – or expectations about – encountering discrimination in Norwegian working life? We addressed three overarching questions:
- Do experiences with and expectations of discrimination influence how minorities present themselves during job applications – do they downplay or conceal their minority background?
- To what extent do employees with minority backgrounds have the same opportunities as their majority colleagues to develop their careers, and how do they experience and manage discrimination after being hired?
- What are the consequences of different strategies for navigating discrimination in terms of individuals’ subjective sense of opportunity and minorities’ actual career outcomes?
The project was organized into three work packages. Based on experimental and qualitative data, the first work package focused on the job application phase and explored the relationship between visible differences (skin color, religious garments) and the strategies minorities use to avoid discrimination. Using quantitative data, the second work package examined the transition from higher education to the labor market and investigated whether changing to a Norwegian-sounding name affects minorities’ labor market outcomes. The final work package combined qualitative and quantitative data to study ethnic inequality in mobility and income, as well as experiences of discrimination after employment.
The project’s final report, Downplaying Difference, summarizes findings and publications.
Project Bank (NFR)
Data protectionThe rights of those we process information about are described in our privacy statement under Your rights. For more information, see Privacy and ethics in our research. For questions about the processing of privacy information in this project, contact ISF's privacy representative. |