Icelandic Learning is a Gendered Health Issue Logan Lee Sigurðsson skrifar 1. apríl 2025 08:32 It is no secret that language barriers are one of the biggest challenges for all Icelanders of foreign origin. Iceland has the lowest self-reported host language proficiency for migrants among all OECD countries — just 18%, compared to the 60% average. Practical access barriers are commonly discussed, including course availability, quality, and high costs. However what is often missing from the conversation is just how learning Icelandic intersects with gender and health. Hidden Barriers: Language learning is labour, even if not often recognized as such. It demands time, focus, and emotional energy — resources not equally available to everyone. Unsurprisingly, the same barriers immigrant women face in the labour market — ie. disproportionate childcare and family responsibilities, health issues, cultural expectations etc. — likewise limit their ability to participate in Icelandic learning. Moreover, knowledge gaps around how trauma, grief, anxiety, and other integration stressors show up in classrooms in ways that language teachers are often not equipped to handle via generalized language teaching methods. Language learning for migrant learners uniquely can trigger and intensify complex issues of identity and belonging. Emotional and cognitive challenges — such as irritability, forgetfulness, sleep disturbances, emotional detachment, and negative self-image — can hinder one's ability to learn, yet are often misunderstood by both learners and educators. Well-meaning advice often offers, “Just be confident!” or “Get out and try more!”, with even some healthcare professionals approaching the matter more within the scope of general self-esteem issues. Yet deeper, multicultural factors are at play, such as dual-identity formation, coping with microaggressions, internalized discrimination, and all the invisible work and effort it takes to navigate an unfamiliar society. Studies further indicate women experience more second language anxiety, echoing broader trends in social anxiety. While Icelandic is obviously difficult for men too, unique gendered circumstances including: the emotional labor of relationship management, preservers of family reputation, more likely to be socialized to draw personal value and self image based on their relationships and how others see them, extra subjection to social policing, increased expectations of coming off as caring and polite pressuring careful tone and word choices etc. These factors raise the stakes of language expression differently for women. As a result, learning Icelandic becomes incredibly personal and isolating, leaving many women silently wondering, "What is wrong with me that makes this so hard?" The Results: With one of the highest migrant overqualification rates in the OECD — about 1 in 3 migrants are in mismatched jobs compared to 1 in 10 natives — Foreign women are especially affected as more likely to be overqualified and hold higher education than their male peers. For refugees, these gaps are even wider. Then their children — even those born and raised in Iceland — also face challenges, as they are disproportionately represented in the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) category. Low parental income or unemployment — both correlating with immigrant families — play a major role in this. The weight and worry this can put on women, particularly as mothers hoping to offer their children better opportunities, is immeasurable. Hope for Change: W.O.M.E.N. offers this article as another perspective to language learning barriers. We see a critical need and opportunity to better support women of foreign origin and their families by exploring these topics further. Partnering with Kvíðameðferðarstöðin and multiple language schools this Spring and Summer, W.O.M.E.N. is conducting the Mállíðan (Mál / language + líðan / health) project funded by the Immigrant Development fund. Mállíðan offers wellbeing support alongside Icelandic courses for women of foreign origin; while together working to better understand these issues and identify best practices. If you are a woman of foreign origin this article has resonated with - you are not alone. We welcome you to visit our website for more information on courses from participating schools here: https://womeniniceland.is/en/mallidan/ The author is the Vice Chair of W.O.M.E.N. & Project Manager of Mállíðan Viltu birta grein á Vísi? Sendu okkur póst. Senda grein Íslensk tunga Mest lesið Halldór 31.05.2025 Halldór Nú er tími til aðgerða: Tóbaks- og nikótínfrítt Ísland Vala Smáradóttir,Jóhanna S. Kristjánsdóttir Skoðun Er ekki tími til kominn að tengja? Kristín María Birgisdóttir Skoðun Til hamingju með sjómannadaginn Sigurjón Þórðarson Skoðun Barnasáttmáli fyrir öll börn Guðný Björk Eydal,Paola Carenas Skoðun Tjáningarfrelsi, gagnrýni og Snorri Másson Birgir Orri Ásgrímsson Skoðun Ójafnvægið sem heimurinn býr við – og skellur á Bakka Erna Bjarnadóttir Skoðun Súrdeigsbrauð, ilmkjarnaolíur og Samtökin 78 Snorri Másson Skoðun Eins skýrt og það verður Jóna Hlíf Halldórsdóttir Skoðun Trollveiðar og veiðiráðgjöf Magnús Jónsson Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Nú er tími til aðgerða: Tóbaks- og nikótínfrítt Ísland Vala Smáradóttir,Jóhanna S. Kristjánsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Til hamingju með sjómannadaginn Sigurjón Þórðarson skrifar Skoðun Er ekki tími til kominn að tengja? Kristín María Birgisdóttir skrifar Skoðun Barnasáttmáli fyrir öll börn Guðný Björk Eydal,Paola Carenas skrifar Skoðun Ójafnvægið sem heimurinn býr við – og skellur á Bakka Erna Bjarnadóttir skrifar Skoðun Bensínstöðvardíll og Birkimelur Helgi Áss Grétarsson skrifar Skoðun Trollveiðar og veiðiráðgjöf Magnús Jónsson skrifar Skoðun Gríðarlegir hagsmunir í húfi Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson skrifar Skoðun Skynsamleg forgangsröðun fjár Ragnhildur Jónsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Eins skýrt og það verður Jóna Hlíf Halldórsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Tjáningarfrelsi, gagnrýni og Snorri Másson Birgir Orri Ásgrímsson skrifar Skoðun Að sameinast fjölskyldu sinni Guðrún Brynjólfsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Þögnin sem skapaði ótta – arfleifð Þórarins í Sameyki Sigríður Svanborgardóttir skrifar Skoðun Súrdeigsbrauð, ilmkjarnaolíur og Samtökin 78 Snorri Másson skrifar Skoðun Eru forvarnir í hættu? Dagbjört Harðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Tveir alþingismenn og Gaza Sverrir Agnarsson skrifar Skoðun Hver borgar fyrir ódýrar lóðir? Sara Björg Sigurðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Erum við að lengja dauðann en ekki lífið? Ágúst Ólafur Ágústsson skrifar Skoðun Mikill munur á aðgengi að líknarmeðferð í Evrópu Kristín Lára Ólafsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Sumarið verður nýtt vel til uppbyggingar snjóflóðavarna Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson skrifar Skoðun Verður það að vera Ísrael? Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Dýravernd - frumbyggjahættir Árni Stefán Árnason skrifar Skoðun Stórstraumsfjara mæld - HMS ráðþrota Magnús Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Sýnum fordómum ekki umburðarlyndi Snorri Sturluson skrifar Skoðun Landbúnaður á tímamótum – Við þurfum nýja stefnu Guðjón Sigurbjartsson skrifar Skoðun Sjómenn til hamingju! Lilja Rafney Magnúsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Leyfum mennskunni að sigra Anna Hildur Hildibrandsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Fjölskyldan fyrst Hólmfríður Jennýjar Árnadóttir skrifar Skoðun Hvað er markaðsverð á fiski? Sverrir Haraldsson skrifar Skoðun Tími til kerfisbundinna breytinga í samfélagstúlkun – ákall til stjórnvalda Anna Karen Svövudóttir skrifar Sjá meira
It is no secret that language barriers are one of the biggest challenges for all Icelanders of foreign origin. Iceland has the lowest self-reported host language proficiency for migrants among all OECD countries — just 18%, compared to the 60% average. Practical access barriers are commonly discussed, including course availability, quality, and high costs. However what is often missing from the conversation is just how learning Icelandic intersects with gender and health. Hidden Barriers: Language learning is labour, even if not often recognized as such. It demands time, focus, and emotional energy — resources not equally available to everyone. Unsurprisingly, the same barriers immigrant women face in the labour market — ie. disproportionate childcare and family responsibilities, health issues, cultural expectations etc. — likewise limit their ability to participate in Icelandic learning. Moreover, knowledge gaps around how trauma, grief, anxiety, and other integration stressors show up in classrooms in ways that language teachers are often not equipped to handle via generalized language teaching methods. Language learning for migrant learners uniquely can trigger and intensify complex issues of identity and belonging. Emotional and cognitive challenges — such as irritability, forgetfulness, sleep disturbances, emotional detachment, and negative self-image — can hinder one's ability to learn, yet are often misunderstood by both learners and educators. Well-meaning advice often offers, “Just be confident!” or “Get out and try more!”, with even some healthcare professionals approaching the matter more within the scope of general self-esteem issues. Yet deeper, multicultural factors are at play, such as dual-identity formation, coping with microaggressions, internalized discrimination, and all the invisible work and effort it takes to navigate an unfamiliar society. Studies further indicate women experience more second language anxiety, echoing broader trends in social anxiety. While Icelandic is obviously difficult for men too, unique gendered circumstances including: the emotional labor of relationship management, preservers of family reputation, more likely to be socialized to draw personal value and self image based on their relationships and how others see them, extra subjection to social policing, increased expectations of coming off as caring and polite pressuring careful tone and word choices etc. These factors raise the stakes of language expression differently for women. As a result, learning Icelandic becomes incredibly personal and isolating, leaving many women silently wondering, "What is wrong with me that makes this so hard?" The Results: With one of the highest migrant overqualification rates in the OECD — about 1 in 3 migrants are in mismatched jobs compared to 1 in 10 natives — Foreign women are especially affected as more likely to be overqualified and hold higher education than their male peers. For refugees, these gaps are even wider. Then their children — even those born and raised in Iceland — also face challenges, as they are disproportionately represented in the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) category. Low parental income or unemployment — both correlating with immigrant families — play a major role in this. The weight and worry this can put on women, particularly as mothers hoping to offer their children better opportunities, is immeasurable. Hope for Change: W.O.M.E.N. offers this article as another perspective to language learning barriers. We see a critical need and opportunity to better support women of foreign origin and their families by exploring these topics further. Partnering with Kvíðameðferðarstöðin and multiple language schools this Spring and Summer, W.O.M.E.N. is conducting the Mállíðan (Mál / language + líðan / health) project funded by the Immigrant Development fund. Mállíðan offers wellbeing support alongside Icelandic courses for women of foreign origin; while together working to better understand these issues and identify best practices. If you are a woman of foreign origin this article has resonated with - you are not alone. We welcome you to visit our website for more information on courses from participating schools here: https://womeniniceland.is/en/mallidan/ The author is the Vice Chair of W.O.M.E.N. & Project Manager of Mállíðan
Nú er tími til aðgerða: Tóbaks- og nikótínfrítt Ísland Vala Smáradóttir,Jóhanna S. Kristjánsdóttir Skoðun
Skoðun Nú er tími til aðgerða: Tóbaks- og nikótínfrítt Ísland Vala Smáradóttir,Jóhanna S. Kristjánsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Tími til kerfisbundinna breytinga í samfélagstúlkun – ákall til stjórnvalda Anna Karen Svövudóttir skrifar
Nú er tími til aðgerða: Tóbaks- og nikótínfrítt Ísland Vala Smáradóttir,Jóhanna S. Kristjánsdóttir Skoðun