Nepalese women migrants in Portugal and their experience with socio-cultural integration

Abstract

This research is about socio-cultural integration of Nepalese women who migrated to Portugal either in search of job or to join their family members. The study population of this research is Nepalese women and the purpose of this study was to understand the Nepalese woman migrant’s experience of integration in Portuguese society as well as in Nepalese society in Portugal. This research also tries to understand the components that affect their integration especially in terms of cultural, interactive, structural and identification integration. It also identifies the support system of Nepalese women which help them to integrate in the society better. The research design for this study is qualitative research which is also supported by statistical data analysis and exploratory interview with the key informants. Qualitative study was carried out to understand the integration process through experience and feelings shared by the participants. Data were conducted through 10 individual interviews which were transcribed and analyzed through content analysis. The research found that most of the women who were researched were educated. Participants who came to Portugal alone expressed that they were ‘independent’ and participant who joined their husband are also independent in work place but did not express that they were independent directly.