Spain
As explained in the previous chapter, on the one hand, it is the Autonomous Communities together with the State and local administrations that have the legal competence to create and implement public policies. This is done within the framework of the social services in which the services that depend on immigration regulations and policies are located. In this way, more specifically, social inclusion services for migrant women cannot overlook their status of migrants and women, a double dimension that must take into account a series of variables: education, family, housing, employment, health, etc. In this way, they contribute to the creation of a migrant woman\'s social identity and her abilities to participate in the social life of the society in which she has settled. Moreover, non-profit associations and their actions represent another essential pillar to overcome separation and promote social interactions between migrants and natives. The latter are a crucial factor to reduce economic and social marginalisation, ultimately with the aim of building more cohesive and inclusive societies.
According to the above, the processes of social inclusion and citizen participation of migrant women imply the joint commitment of various active entities in the field, both public and private, in order to obtain real, positive, effective and significant results. Here are several examples of this:
Þ Educational and labour integration programmes for migrant women.
- SARA Programme – Migrant Women. This resource is framed within the Socio-Labor Insertion Programmes of the Ministry of Equality. Its main objective is to improve the quality of life of immigrant women, through better training directed towards social participation and, in particular, employment. The programme is directed towards immigrant women, victims of social and cultural barriers, hindering the group’s socio-labour integration. It consists designing insertion itineraries based on a gender and intercultural perspective, adapted to each woman’s needs and characteristics, with the elaboration of specific contents that take diversity into account. The project is developed via agreements with the following non-profit entities: CEPAIM and Cruz Roja Española. For more information: https://www.inmujeres.gob.es/areasTematicas/AreaProgInsercionSociolaboral/SaraMujMigrantes.htm
Þ Language courses for migrant women.
- Free Spanish course for immigrant women of the association "Por Ti Mujer". The immigration and integration section of this association is committed to promoting the socio-cultural integration of immigrant women in the host society. It regards it as an essential component to guarantee equity, inclusion, tolerance and diversity in the cities and neighborhoods we inhabit. For more information: https://asociacionportimujer.org/event/curso-de-espanol-para-mujeres-inmigrantes/
Þ Participation of migrant women in socio-cultural and socio-political life.
- Awareness campaign #mujeresin. This campaign is run by the ACCEM association. Its purpose is to work towards integration based on equality, non-discrimination, avoiding labels or prejudice. For more information https://personasin.accem.es/mujeresin/contexto/
To end the chapter, we present one of the interviews of the Case Study Map, entitled "Aid and support as integration mechanisms. The story of a Maroccan woman in Spain", accessible at https://viw.pixel-online.org/case_view.php?id=NTc= In this experience, the protagonist recounts how one of the difficulties in her integration process is the language barrier.
References
Migrant Women for a diverse Andalusia. Intercultural and Social Inclusion Practices. Women Migrants in the El Cerezo neighbourhood. https://participamostransformamos.org/nosotras-contamos-nosotras-aportamos-guia-mujeres-migrantes-por-una-andalucia-diversa/
This guide presents, analyses and reflects on four cases of intercultural practices and social inclusion carried out by immigrant women of diverse origins, within spheres of interaction with the native population in the neighbourhood of El Cerezo in Seville.
Immigration law, public policies and gender. Teaching materials https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/export/drupaljda/Derecho_extranjeria_politicas_publicas_genero.pdf
The Ministry of Justice and of the Interior, through the General Directorate for the Coordination of Migration Policies, is implementing the FORINTER2 project: Training in Interculturality and Migration. This project includes a Training Programme in Intercultural Matters aimed at the Andalusia Public Administration staff. Its purpose is the development of a technical and political process, which involves new public policy approaches, organisational modes and institutional ways of working. It is based on the transversal incorporation of the intercultural perspective, with the aim of building greater social cohesion in Andalusian society. In addition to the completion of the training courses, a series of Didactic Materials on interulturality have been developed with specific content on migration and diversity management, and notably the gender approach.
Discrimination and psychosocial well-being of migrants in Spain: The moderating role of sense of community (2020). https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02235/full
This study analyses how a sense of community (SOC) can protect against perceptions of discrimination and its negative consequences.