Public service users at the intersection of disability and migratory background: inclusion and barriers
Kopomaa, Inka (2024)
Kopomaa, Inka
2024
Master's Programme in Global Society
Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2024-01-19
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202311149660
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202311149660
Tiivistelmä
This study examines the perceptions and barriers of inclusion for marginalised groups as users in public social and healthcare services. In particular, the research focuses on citizens at the intersection of migratory background and a disability. The aim is to hear their perceptions of inclusion and everyday experiences of barriers in service use and to investigate what are the means to improve inclusion. The focus of the study is on intersectionality and social inclusion as these concepts strongly intertwines in themes of marginalisation and citizens with intersecting identities.
Aiming to study this, the research conducted five semi-structured online interviews. The interviewees were four migrant citizens with disabilities and a relative working as a family caregiver. Each participant had experiences of using social and healthcare services in the Helsinki metropolitan area, in Finland. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the interviews.
Four themes were raised from the data analysed: (1) barriers in service use, (2) family and professionals from other fields providing care, (3) migrants’ identity and position in society and (4) further ideas to enhance inclusion as an integrating process. The research showed that the inclusion of the marginalised citizens was strengthened by considering their intersecting identities. However, the results were not self-evident, and the individuals’ insights were various. These identities do not define a person as a whole. Consequently, the aim should not be to categorise groups of people according to a particular part of identity. It may underline “otherness” from the majority. The general interest should focus on individual needs and rights that all citizens have.
The findings provided important insights into ways to support and enhance the inclusion of citizens with marginalising identities in the context of Finland. This research can be used as a basis to create guidelines and increase the expertise of the public sector and local decision makers. The study can guide to consider intersectionality and marginalised groups in the design of the social and healthcare services. In the future, problematic practices and fragmented care policy in the system may become even more pressing as the number of migrants grow. Moreover, other groups with intersecting identities, such as ageing migrants, may face similar challenges such as digital inaccessibility and language barrier.
Aiming to study this, the research conducted five semi-structured online interviews. The interviewees were four migrant citizens with disabilities and a relative working as a family caregiver. Each participant had experiences of using social and healthcare services in the Helsinki metropolitan area, in Finland. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the interviews.
Four themes were raised from the data analysed: (1) barriers in service use, (2) family and professionals from other fields providing care, (3) migrants’ identity and position in society and (4) further ideas to enhance inclusion as an integrating process. The research showed that the inclusion of the marginalised citizens was strengthened by considering their intersecting identities. However, the results were not self-evident, and the individuals’ insights were various. These identities do not define a person as a whole. Consequently, the aim should not be to categorise groups of people according to a particular part of identity. It may underline “otherness” from the majority. The general interest should focus on individual needs and rights that all citizens have.
The findings provided important insights into ways to support and enhance the inclusion of citizens with marginalising identities in the context of Finland. This research can be used as a basis to create guidelines and increase the expertise of the public sector and local decision makers. The study can guide to consider intersectionality and marginalised groups in the design of the social and healthcare services. In the future, problematic practices and fragmented care policy in the system may become even more pressing as the number of migrants grow. Moreover, other groups with intersecting identities, such as ageing migrants, may face similar challenges such as digital inaccessibility and language barrier.