Asiimwe, Dorcus
Specialization: Gender Studies
Social Exclusion of Unmarried Women in Kampala, Uganda : A Case Study of Five Pentecostal Women
In Uganda, actions to promote gender equality have been taken since the 1980s. Affirmative action programs in favour of women and other “marginalized” groups were established, and since the appointment of the first female vice president in 1994, several women have continued to be appointed to higher political positions, pointing towards gender sensitivity. However, despite a positive image regarding gender equity in politics, women in Uganda continue to experience marginalization due to culturally, socially, and religiously constructed beliefs that regard women as less valuable than men. While women, in general, face challenges due to their gender, this study specifically focuses on unmarried women within the Pentecostal churches in Uganda. I argue that the marginalization of unmarried Pentecostal women intersects at the societal and family levels and is reinforced within the Pentecostal churches. Unmarried women are often silenced, and when they attempt to speak about their experiences of marginalization, they are not heard or understood. I decided to study this phenomenon using the multidimensional approach to social exclusion theories as a theoretical framework. The daily lived experiences of marginalization, which engender the rupture of social bonds and lead to the ostracization of unmarried women, put them in a vulnerable position in their daily relations. The challenges that women, especially unmarried women, encounter within the Pentecostal churches tend to be silenced; hence, there is a need for further research into this topic.
Bettella, Sofia
Specialization: Gender Studies
Queer in Italy: Navigating Social Exclusion
This thesis provides an evaluation and discussion of an academic blog project in which the author explored aspects of Queer life in Italy. The thesis comprises a blog series project and a complimentary reflexive analysis that contextualizes the project, situating it within the broader theoretical framework of Social Exclusion. Additionally, the author demonstrates the power of Autoethnography as a unique tool to expose processes of exclusion. By intertwining analysis of socio-political contexts, personal experiences, and theoretical perspectives, this research strives to expose the multifaceted ways in which discrimination affects Queer people in Italy on an intimate level. The blog entries offer reflections on the limitations of anti-discrimination laws, Queer emigration from Italy, and the ongoing struggle to maintain hope in the face of adversity. This nontraditional thesis employs a participatory approach to research which aims to provide an accessible account of the challenges and barriers faced by Queer individuals in Italy. The research findings highlight the need for further research on the social exclusion of Queer people, particularly with regard to economic dependency, emigration, and hope. This project aims to inform and sensitize readers who do not identify as Queer while affirming the concerns of those who do, promoting allyship and equity for all members of Italian society.
Chunga, Alice Alexis
Specialization: Gender Studies
Broken Sisterhood : Investigating Social Exclusion of Black African Feminist Women in the White Finnish Feminist Movement.
In this thesis, I investigate the complexities of existing and navigating a white Finnish feminist space as a black African feminist woman. This thesis is partially completed as written text, and the analysis is presented in the form of a three-part blog series.
This study aims to determine what it means to be a black African feminist woman in a white Finnish feminist space, what factors affect black African feminists’ participation in discussions and feminist activities, and how black African feminists and white Finnish feminists collaborate more effectively. Through social exclusion (using the lens of race) and standpoint feminist theories, these aspects will be analysed. I will discuss topics such as white supremacy, whiteness, and white feminism to define the space(s) black African feminists find themselves in and to illustrate their position in the racial hierarchy in the movement. Interviews were the data collection method, which was analysed with critical discourse analysis in order to flesh out power dynamics, to shed light on inequalities, and to stand in solidarity with black African feminist women. The critique of white feminism in the Finnish feminist movement is for the dismantling of white supremacy and Finnish exceptionalism, eliminating inequality, and making black African feminist voices and concerns valid.
Etta, Marylyne
Specialization: Study of Religion
A Beacon of Hope : Redeemed Christian Church of God as a Safe Space for Revitilization – A Case Study of Five Cameroonians who have experienced being Out of Place in Turku,Finland
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Turku, Finland plays a big role in the lives of Cameroonians who have experienced being out of place in Finland. The social exclusion of Cameroon migrants and how the Redeemed Church serves as a safe space for revitalization opens a unique way of understanding, observing, and interpreting people’s experiences and their responses to society. In this research, I interviewed five Cameroonians who: 1) were residents of Finland at present; 2) Had been a resident of Finland for at least a year; 3) Had experienced being out of place; and 4) Participants must have attended the Redeemed Church of God. Using qualitative research and hermeneutic phenomenology, I conducted semi-structured interviews that explored the participants’ experiences of being out of place and how the Redeemed Church of God serves as a safe space for revitalization. The research findings highlight the participants’ experiences of being out of place and how the church serves as a safe space for revitalization. The study reveals that the Redeemed Church of God serves as a safe space for revitalization through familiarity and unity for Cameroonian migrants who have experienced being out of place in Finland.
Mohammad Naeemi, Kosar
Specialization: Study of Religion
The Genocide of the Hazaras : Investigating Long-term Social and Cultural Consequences on Hazara Identity and Hazara Women
This master’s thesis examines the Hazara genocide, a tragic chapter in Afghanistan’s history characterized by centuries of persecution and violence against the Hazara ethnic minority. Drawing on historical analysis, legal frameworks, and socio-political perspectives, this research delves into the root causes, manifestations, and consequences of the genocide, with a particular focus on the ongoing challenges faced by the Hazara community. The thesis explores the historical trajectory of the Hazara genocide, from Abdur Rahman Khan’s brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing in the late nineteenth century to contemporary targeted attacks and discrimination. It analyzes the intersections of ethnicity, religion, and power dynamics in perpetuating violence against the Hazaras, shedding light on the gendered dimensions of the genocide and its impact on Hazara women and girls.
Central to this study is an examination of efforts to address the Hazara genocide at local, national, and international levels. The thesis evaluates the role of legal frameworks, such as the Genocide Convention, in promoting recognition, justice, and accountability for the atrocities committed against the Hazara community. It explores strategies for empowering Hazara women, promoting reconciliation, and fostering intergroup understanding as essential components of post-genocide recovery and peacebuilding efforts. Through a comprehensive analysis of scholarly literature and legal documents, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the Hazara genocide and offers insights into pathways for meaningful intervention and support.
Ultimately, this thesis argues for the urgent need to recognize the Hazara genocide as a grave crime against humanity and calls for decisive action to address its legacies. By acknowledging historical injustices, promoting justice and accountability, empowering marginalized communities, and fostering reconciliation, the international community can contribute to a more just and equitable future for Afghanistan. The findings of this study have implications for policymakers, human rights advocates, and scholars engaged in efforts to prevent genocide, promote human rights, and build sustainable peace in conflict-affected societies.
Panera, Niki
Specialization: History
Refugees and “Refugees” in Greece: Differential Media Discourses in 2015 and
2022 Refugee “Crises”
In this thesis, I analyze the different media discourses in Greece towards the refugees from Middle Eastern and African countries in 2015 and the Ukrainian refugees of 2022. By conducting Critical Discourse Analysis on two politically opposite websites in Greece, it becomes clear that media discourse in both periods concentrates on the following themes: i) news reports that use neutral language on migration and refugees; ii) news reports that focus on and overuse migration statistics; iii) opinion articles that focus on the culture of migrants; and iv) reports that victimize refugees. This study shows that the Russian invasion of Ukraine changed the perception of the word refugee by victimizing Ukrainian refugees and amplifying the symbolic practice of European border controls, which include and exclude based on racialized, cultural and religious terms. Moreover, the role of religion for influencing Greek and European public discourse on the issue is also examined. In the Greek case, the role of religion is considered of primary importance due to the historical presence of Islam in Greece, which often becomes a scapegoat for Greek nationalism.
Särmä, Oona
Specialization: Gender Studies
‘Provenly’ Queer and Entitled for Asylum : A Qualitative Study of the Social Exclusion that Heteronormativity Produces through the Finnish Asylum System
Queer asylum seekers find themselves at an intersection of multiple exclusions because of their refugeeness and queerness, among other features (Danisi et al. 2021). In the European context, the borders of the EU have been externalized as a part of constructing ‘fortress Europe’, which, arguably, is a continuation of the colonial legacies of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees from 1951 (see Varada Raj 2006, Spijkerboer 2017b, Mayblin 2014). Within this asylum regime of the EU, the externalization of borders, and the consequent exclusion of asylum seekers, queer asylum seekers arguably face compounded exclusion because of their queerness. Concerning the case of Finland, this thesis employs queer theory and social exclusion theory together to investigate how heteronormativity operates in the evaluations of sexual orientation and gender identity as asylum grounds in the asylum procedures conducted by the Finnish Immigration Service, and how it produces and reproduces social exclusion. The study employs a qualitative research design, including data production through semi-structured interviews with the personnel of the Finnish Immigration Service. The data produced through the interviews are subsequently analyzed through the theoretical framework, and elements of social constructionism and critical discourse analysis are incorporated as well. The findings of the study then guide painting a ‘queer future’ of the queer asylum seekers and a pathway for future research.