Migrants have voices, too
Migration is a hot topic in British politics and is inextricably entwined with the debate about staying in or qutting the European Union. How ridiculous, then, that the least heard voices in the controversy are those of migrants themselves.
The organisation Migrant Voice is trying to put that right, and its latest effort is simple and effective: ask some of the 7.8 million foreign-born nationals in the UK what they think.
Funny that newspapers, magazines, radio and TV progranmmes and web operations didn’t come up with the idea. Could it be that they are not interested in listening to the people most immediately affected?
Previous research, published in April, showed that migrants are quoted in only 12 per cent of articles focusing on migration in the media outlets analaysed. .
The new research undertaken between June and August found that the vast majority of migrants participating in the survey feel as though they belong in the UK and are well-integrated into British society.
” I feel this is a country of opportunities, where everyone who wants to work hard can achieve.”
Generally, they felt that a sense of belonging is created by legal status, engaging with the local community and with wider British society, adapting to the culture, laws, rules and regulations of the country, speaking English, having opportunities to contribute, sharing values and beinconsidered equal.
Nearly half (46 per cent) of migrants said that media and political debates have an impact on their s ense of belonging.
Unsurprisingly, migrants said they are aware and critical of the tone of the political debate on migration and the way they are represented. This was particularly true of the Bulgarian and Romanian communities, but the point was also made in relation to government policies and campaigns - including the ‘Go Home Vans’, increases in Stop and Search, and the rise of UKIP’s anti-immigrant agenda and its spillover to other parties.
“People have been judged even before they arrived in the country, I can see the British concerns and I don’t blame them for that but, you need to think carefully before you make such prejudice”
Many expressed deep anxiety and sadness about the direction of the political debate and about what they percieved as the persistent, often deliberate, misrepresentation of migration and migrants in the media.
More than two-thirds of respondents feel personally affected by the tone of the debate and by innacurate reporting..
“...the way in which migrants are represented make me feel that my contributions to British society are devalued and not respected”
“It makes me feel like we are guilty of everything, that migrants should be blamed for everything”
This has led to a sense of resignation that they will never belong no matter how integrated they feel.
“I used to feel like I belonged. Now I feel I unwelcomed.”
They also feel that the accusatory tone and misreporting have undermined the relationship between migrants and the public and led to an increase in racism and discrimination.
They say they increasingly feel defensive and as though they must continually prove themselves or be extra careful.
“On everyday basis someone doesn't forget to remind me that I am not from here either by what they say, how's they treat me, how they make me feel or by their body language”
Most tellingly, migrants do not consider that there is a debate on migration in the UK, because a debate requires different sides of an argument to be presented and heard: ”It is not a debate – it is one sided”
Migrant Voice says it expects to publish the research within weeks.
· A few more quotes:
# “...the way in which migrants are represented make me feel that my contributions to British society are devalued and not respected. The short-term economic perspective neglects the long-term cultural and social contributions evident in society...”
# “This debate on immigration only shows one side of the picture ... It doesn’t tell you how a single person feels. I mean, all my friends who got their status after years and years of fighting. Why don’t the media tell us about what all these people are living?”
# “ They stereotype us now, that’s what they do to us ... You watch Sky News and they start discussing about migrants and it’s a bit of a negative issue: you step out and people look at you like you’re a fancy face.”
# “It makes me feel like we are guilty of everything, that migrants should be blamed for everything. Even starting from the economic crisis, through to the benefits problems, bedroom tax and the NHS cuts. Everything. That’s how it’s being portrayed by the media.”
# “I feel a sadness as well. There is press freedom in the UK. They don’t have a gun to the back of their head forcing them to write this racist drivel, they’re choosing to do it (...) The sales is the motivating factor ...I don’t think they have an agenda, I don’t think they’re doing it with an end in mind other than making money.”
# “When media and public opinion reflect negative image about migration, I feel worried and not part of this country.”
# “Belonging is to have friendship, to blossom, to have freedom and to use your skills (…) to offer to society...”
# ”I am working in the UK since I have arrived here, nine years ago and have never claimed any benefits. I feel included on the local level because people know me here, but not on the national level because of the negative stigma attached to the Eastern European migrants.”
# ”People around me friendly, but [I'm] not very confident in showing I'm a migrant if I’m around people that I don't know.”
# “I feel like no matter how hard I try I will never be an equal with the ’native’ people because I am being singled out all the time.”
# “How can you feel like you belong in a society that makes it all too clear it hates you and wants you gone?”
#“These debates totally denied my contribution to the society. I feel I am used. My tax is used to pay for the benefit of local people but I am never regarded as a local.”
# “I am more scared to talk to people casually on the bus or train because I am afraid they will say something thoughtless about immigrants.”
# ”It makes me feel that people in the streets will start considering migrants their enemies, and that I am going to be in danger soon.”
# “I feel like it makes me distrust and even despise the British public, even though I have personally never had a bad experience with a British person on an individual level. It really scares me to realize that hate breeds hate, and that this is just as true for myself as for anyone.”
# “I have many friends here and most people I deal with in my everyday life are not xenophobic, so I do have faith that most people are decent and reasonable. But I also worry about how politicians and the media influence public debate, and that they are encouraging people who are worried about the effects of austerity to blame migrants. And this will make me feel unwelcome.”
“People think you are thick or stupid just because of your accent.”
By Daniel Nelson
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