| Swedes cool towards ethnic diversity |
| Written by urbanlife.se |
| Saturday, 15 November 2008 23:43 |
 There are many reasons why I started urbanlife.se and this is one of them. The Local reports that Swedish people are becoming less tolerant to different races, particularly among women. This may surprise you but not me. According to the annual diversity barometer carried out by researchers at Uppsala University, the percentage of the Swedish population with extremely negative attitudes toward ethnic diversity has increased by 50 percent since 2005. “The extremely negative attitudes are increasing, and we believe it’s in line with what’s happening in Europe. It’s not only older, but also younger who are negative,” said Orlando Mella, a sociology professor from Uppsala University, to the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper. Unexpectedly, however, the prevalence of negative attitudes toward ethnic diversity among Swedish women has nearly doubled from 2.3 percent to 4.1 percent. As an outsider to Sweden, and only now finding my way in the system I wondered how long it would take to hear this. How can anyone understand other cultures if you don’t talk or work with foreigners? In a job system where positions are only given to those recommended, how could an equally talented immigrant ever find work? Will they need special food, treatment or days off? This type of system creates a nervousness and fear of employing a person from ‘the unknown’. Media images and job losses can have a negative effect on people’s perceptions, and we only have to look at Germany 1938 to see the devastating effects of similar circumstances. As we know, racism is born from ignorance. Should there be a limit to how many people a company can employ by ‘networking’?
I don’t know but many talented people who want to contribute to the wealth and growth of the Swedish economy are being denied the chance. Instead they are forced into finding other work, with the most recognized profession being taxi driving.Sweden has the highest educated taxi drivers in the world – this is shameful and something I shall repeat often on this site. To be fair to many companies they actually don’t have much choice. To hire someone is expensive and to fire them almost impossible. Think about it. If you have a company of two people, and you could only afford to hire one more, would you hire the best person or someone strongly recommended by the other person you work with? You might even set up a bonus scheme to reward employees who find other employees. It’s no wonder immigrants, like myself, start their own businesses and then socialize only with people they know. How can we ever get to know each other? Urbanlife.se hopes to be a window into the black/ urban culture. We invite Swedes to learn and embrace the wide and colourful culture that resides here and in correlation invite immigrants to learn and embrace the wonderful Swedish culture. What do you think?
To read the full article on The Local click here: http://www.thelocal.se/15198/ |
Comments
\\\"However, Mella added that in comparison to the rest of Europe, Sweden is generally quite positive toward diversity.\\\"
\\\"We should remember that there aren’t deep ethnic conflicts in Sweden like there are in France or Great Britain\\\"
So Sweden are not so bad as this article might make it seem. It is always two sides to everything. I love and embrace different cultures and ethnic diversity.
So if your willing to consider Sweden again as an option, read some more articles and get a full clear wiew of what Sweden really is, and talk to some Swedes and get your own opinion.
Welcome!
Sweden does have its problems but where doesn\'t? As a girl from Sweden said
\\\"We should remember that there aren’t deep ethnic conflicts in
Sweden like there are in France or Great Britain\\\"
I wouldn\'t want you not to move to Sweden because you fear SOME Swedish opinions.
That\'s what Urbanlife.se is trying to change and with your support we can make that happen.
Please read more articles on the site and keep in contact.
By the way, that was a nice reply \'a girl from Sweden\'
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