Beschreibung
The contribution presents findings from a recent research project (2021-2025) on the social construction of “deskilling” among highly educated EU migrants from CEE countries in Vienna (see https://demico.univie.ac.at/). Our qualitative approach focuses on the micro-level processes leading to this phenomenon. We thereby opt for a multi-perspective and longitudinal proceeding, combining a qualitative panel study with migrants from Hungary, Czech Republic and Romania, and interviews with institutional actors. Contrary to most research on this topic, we do not investigate deskilling from a static point of view but take account of the temporal dimension of this phenomenon. We thus opt for process-oriented research in order to gain insights into the ways that deskilling processes are lived by the individuals concerned. Such a qualitative longitudinal approach enables us to trace changes at the individual level over time, thus offering a fresh perspective on deskilling.The findings inidcate that interviewees experience a tension between their own understanding of class belonging and their racialisation as ‘cheap labour’ migrants from ‘Eastern Europe.’ Racialised markers are described as penalising when navigating the labour market, indicating that respondents’ privilege as white, educated EU migrants is only partial. Their middle-class status is ambivalent, as it is associated with relative privilege but requires constant efforts to avoid status loss.
| Zeitraum | 24 Sept. 2025 |
|---|---|
| Ereignistitel | 42. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Soziologie (DGS): Transitionen |
| Veranstaltungstyp | Konferenz |
| Ort | Duisburg, DeutschlandAuf Karte anzeigen |
| Bekanntheitsgrad | International |