Comments on: Swedish Immigration Policy and the Make-Up of Its Men’s and Women’s National Teams http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/09/28/swedish-immigration-policy-and-the-make-up-of-its-mens-and-womens-national-teams/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:57:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: davidson http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/09/28/swedish-immigration-policy-and-the-make-up-of-its-mens-and-womens-national-teams/#comment-14075 davidson Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:10:29 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/09/28/swedish-immigration-policy-and-the-make-up-of-its-mens-and-womens-national-teams/#comment-14075 I want to migrate to sweden because I am pursue by the police to put me in prison. I want to migrate to sweden because I am pursue by the police to put me in prison.

]]> By: Phil http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/09/28/swedish-immigration-policy-and-the-make-up-of-its-mens-and-womens-national-teams/#comment-3495 Phil Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:27:45 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/09/28/swedish-immigration-policy-and-the-make-up-of-its-mens-and-womens-national-teams/#comment-3495 Based on two years recently spent in Stockholm, I found this post well researched, and right on the money. Sweden's long-time open door policy has resulted in 1.5 million people of their 9 million population being "non-Swedish-looking Swedes". Although the immigration policy was liberal, assimilation into Swedish society has been really tough for the immigrants despite the governments free language classes and strong emphasis on having everyone learn Swedish. Most Balkan and Middle Eastern immigrants live fairly isolated in enclaves outside of Stockholm (or other cities), partly due to choice, but also because Sweden's rental market is controlled by the government and housing is done by waiting list (or, alas, connections). I was struck by how few immigrants one sees in the inner city (where we lived), except for bus drivers and kebab shop owners. There is a saying in Sweden that they have the best educated street sweepers in the world. Sadly, it is really hard for immigrants to get skilled jobs in a society where people often network with old school friends. Alas, the immigrants are often targets for whatever ills or growing pains are affecting Sweden - increased crime, fewer jobs etc. Soccer is one way for an immigrant to get literally AND figuratively on a level playing field. It is clear that culture is preventing more young immigrant women from playing soccer. When you go to outlying areas like Rinkeby where most of the immigrants live, most of the young women are still wearing long robes and head scarves - not so easy to play soccer in that garb. I suspect that will start changing in the next generation as women become more "Swedified". As David says, soccer is still very much a male sport in those cultures. It must truly be culture shock for female Muslim immigrants to come into what is probably one of the most egalitarian cultures in the world. 85% of Swedish women work, and is well known, sexual mores are a lot looser than even the U.S. Abortion is on demand and birth control widely available. (Even the subway stations have condom machines.) Nudity is considered no big deal. Many couples don't marry as the benefits for unmarried couples are the same as for those who are married. So obviously a HUGE contrast to Muslim traditions. Based on two years recently spent in Stockholm, I found this post
well researched, and right on the money. Sweden’s long-time open door
policy has resulted in
1.5 million people of their 9 million population being “non-Swedish-looking
Swedes”. Although the immigration policy was liberal, assimilation into
Swedish society has been really tough for the immigrants despite the
governments free language classes and strong emphasis on having everyone
learn Swedish. Most Balkan and Middle Eastern immigrants live fairly
isolated in enclaves outside of Stockholm (or other cities), partly due to
choice, but also because Sweden’s rental market is controlled by the
government and housing is done by waiting list (or, alas, connections). I
was struck by how few immigrants one sees in the inner city (where we
lived), except for bus drivers and kebab shop owners. There is a saying in
Sweden that they have the best educated street sweepers in the world.
Sadly, it is really hard for immigrants to get skilled jobs in a society
where people often network with old school friends. Alas, the immigrants
are often targets for whatever ills or growing pains are affecting Sweden -
increased crime, fewer jobs etc. Soccer is one way for an immigrant to get
literally AND figuratively on a level playing field.

It is clear that culture is preventing more young immigrant women
from playing soccer. When you go to outlying areas like Rinkeby where most of the
immigrants live, most of the young women are still wearing long robes and
head scarves - not so easy to play soccer in that garb. I suspect that will
start changing in the next generation as women become more “Swedified”. As
David says, soccer is still very much a male sport in those cultures. It
must truly be culture shock for female Muslim immigrants to come into what is
probably one of the most egalitarian cultures in the world. 85% of Swedish
women work, and is well known, sexual mores are a lot looser than even the
U.S. Abortion is on demand and birth control widely available. (Even the
subway stations have condom machines.) Nudity is considered no big deal.
Many couples don’t marry as the benefits for unmarried couples are the same
as for those who are married. So obviously a HUGE contrast to Muslim
traditions.

]]> By: Jason.Burke,Murphy http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/09/28/swedish-immigration-policy-and-the-make-up-of-its-mens-and-womens-national-teams/#comment-3446 Jason.Burke,Murphy Sat, 29 Sep 2007 01:58:39 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/09/28/swedish-immigration-policy-and-the-make-up-of-its-mens-and-womens-national-teams/#comment-3446 Germany's team has a couple of not typically German names on the women's team, (Bajmaraj is the only one that comes to my mind) with more "new German" names in their men's team (Odonkor, Asamoah, Mehmet Scholl). One of my favorite names is Otto Addo, who could have played for Germany but chose Ghana. In Germany, and maybe Sweden, sports is not organized through schools but through clubs. I usually think this much better than our system but our system does provide much greater access to sports for women, with a host of benefits following suit. Germany’s team has a couple of not typically German names on the women’s team, (Bajmaraj is the only one that comes to my mind) with more “new German” names in their men’s team (Odonkor, Asamoah, Mehmet Scholl). One of my favorite names is Otto Addo, who could have played for Germany but chose Ghana.

In Germany, and maybe Sweden, sports is not organized through schools but through clubs. I usually think this much better than our system but our system does provide much greater access to sports for women, with a host of benefits following suit.

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