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Living separately under the same roof?


Immigrants and their descendants are often accused of retreating from society or even 'forming ghettos'. They are unwilling to participate in the receiving or majority society, it is said. At a time when religious terrorism is the subject of increasing debate, there is a risk of independent organisation by immigrants becoming entangled in prejudice.

We should not forget, however, that independent organisation, for example in independent football teams, presupposes the experience of rejection. A rejection that does not necessarily mean open discrimination. Immigrants and their descendants speak of a lack of equal opportunities and recognition, of "being ignored" at work or in their leisure activities.

Added to this are orientation problems in a society that is constantly modernising: "At work I have to be twice as good as my 'German' colleague".

Could it not be the majority who are not open enough?

Immigrants from Turkey are so different from one another that they cannot be placed under one cultural roof. It can be the majority society that initially 'talks them into' being a group and ultimately forming one. Once you have been allocated to such a group, it is difficult to break away.

Why do many immigrants feel they are threatened by the majority society and need to protect themselves? Why do they feel that whatever they do they will never belong? Is it not understandable that you enjoy life more if you surround yourself with people who have similar experiences and thus understand you better? Open questions.

"Our relationship with foreign people and foreign cultures is linked to that which is foreign to us. The 'internal abroad' (Sigmund Freud) is a decisive factor in how foreigners are experienced."
(Gerhard Vinnai)