| Abstract [eng] |
The problem. One of the most pressing international policy issues of the 21st century is the increase in the number of refugees around the world because of the climate crisis, armed conflicts and wars. While the number is predicted to only increase in the future – EU countries seems to be using one fits all approach when it comes to gender and asylum seeking. That is why this study looks closer into the gender aspect of asylum through gender-sensitive approach. Germany and Sweden were picked for this study because both are well known flag barriers of feminist foreign policy, which means that gender is not a new concept when it comes to policy for these two countries. Relevance. In order to justify the lack of gender sensitive approach in asylum seeking processes in Germany and Sweden, this thesis examines the asylum application process in Sweden and Germany by examining the legal documents of these countries and interviews with professionals working with refugee(s) seeking asylum. The research material is analysed through a gender-sensitive approach, which is better informed by postcolonial feminist approaches, Butler's theory of gender performativity and Foucault's theory of power. The aim of this master thesis is to analyse how gender influences the asylum application process and life during the asylum process in Germany and Sweden through a gender-sensitive approach. The main objectives of the thesis are: a) to show how and whether gender is defined in the legal asylum seeking documents in Sweden and Germany; b) to analyse specialists working in the field of asylum and their attitudes towards the factor of gender; c) to see how the performativity, power and postcolonial feminism of gender are manifested in the asylum application process in the two countries; and d) to evaluate how (and through whom) the effects of gender on the asylum application process in both countries are expressed. The study will try to answer the question whether gender has any significance for refugees waiting for asylum status? Main findings. The analysis of the collected material for this study shows that gender is not a universal, neutral or completely irrelevant category in the asylum process. With the help of theoretical approaches on gender-sensitive attitudes, power, gender performativity and postcolonial feminism, it can be argued that gender acts as a visible or invisible aspect that defines the refugee's access to services, the likelihood of being granted or denied asylum in the country of destination, and the formation of public opinion. This research has shown that gender in the context of asylum claims is not merely a biological indicator or attribute, but functions as a process of institutional and cultural perceptions. Recommendations. For institutions and specialists’ recommendations are to strengthen capacity-building and knowledge on various gendered approaches as well as Queer community and their needs. For academia the recommendation is to continue researching this topic within refugee communities themselves, with the focus on Queer community as well as male refugees, who as this study shows are often overlooked. This work complements the field of refugee and asylum seekers and contributes to the study of gender-sensitive approach discourse. More importantly, the approach taken in this research is contemporary and holistic way to look at gender aspect in the asylum seeking while taking qualitative rather than quantitive approach. |
