En resa genom integration, stöd och arbetsmarknad : En kvalitativ studie om hur högutbildade invandrarkvinnor får stöd för att integrera sig i det svenska samhället och arbetsmarknaden

Abstract This thesis explores the challenges faced by highly educated women with migrant backgrounds asthey integrate into Swedish society, with a particular emphasis on their entry into the labor market.Using Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of cultural, social, and economic capital alongside anintersectional framework of Patricia Hill Collins, the study examines how language difficulties,lack of social networks, and limited recognition of foreign qualifications shape their experiences.The analysis is based on qualitative interviews with eight women from different countries andprofessional fields. The findings reveal that while these women possess valuable knowledge andskills, these are not always acknowledged in the Swedish labor context. At the same time, varioussupport systems (both formal and informal) along with the women’s own efforts, emerge asimportant in helping them navigate the challenges. The study concludes that integration is adynamic process, influenced by both societal structures and the individual’s capacity to adapt andact. Keywords: integration, immigrant women, cultural capital, intersectionality, labor market,Bourdieu, Collins