Migration, Immigration and Their Effects on Religion, Women And Minorities in Germany - Essay Example

Migration, Immigration and Their Effects on Religion, Women And Minorities in Germany Introduction The phenomenon of globalization or the borderless world paved the way for the movement of persons across national boundaries. It is very much evident that the developments in technology and transportation made individuals more mobile. The increased demand for workers especially in developed countries was also one of the "push" factors for migration (Massey, 1998). A country like the United States is considered to be a "melting pot" of different cultures and ethnic minorities. The same can also be said with the European Union with its free movement of labor. Higher wages attract workers, especially women to migrate with the idea of having a better and improved welfare. This paper aims to examine the effects of migration on women, religion and ethnic minorities. In this case, Germany shall be examined due to its immigration and refugee policy. It is also considered to have the largest foreign population in Europe. In fact, Germany's foreign population has already exceeded seven million people for each of the last 10 years, not counting those migrants who have acquired German citizenship (Oezcan, 2004). Clearly, these factors pose challenges to the Germany and the European Union. Migration in Germany In European history, Germany was identified to have a long history of absorbing migrants from Europe: Lutherans from Austria, Huguenots from France, Jews from East and Central Europe. However, this openness through the years sparked debates and inquiries. Nationalists espoused a particularist approach to such issues which stressed on blood rather than territory or birth right. Those that migrated to Germany were never identified to be Germans. Such an approach was very much seen in Hitler's regime wherein Jews were considered to be a lesser race compared to full-blooded Germans. The particularist approach in Germany history was subdued by the need for economic recovery especially after World War II and German Unification. By the end of the late 1980s, foreigners were increasingly being blamed for taking jobs, housing and public services away from German citizens (Hollifield, 1997:48). There was a need to rebuild Germany after the damages it suffered after the war. With a relatively low population and workforce, it needed foreigners to work and rebuild infrastructures. Nonetheless, this was not seen by German citizens who were easily displaced and unable to receive benefits from the state. The Effects on Women, Religion and Ethnic Minorities In 2000, a new citizenship law came into force, the first such measure in nearly 90 years. For the very first time, children born to foreigners in Germany automatically receive German citizenship, provided one parent has been a legal resident for at least eight years (Oezcan, 2004). The demography and ethnic makeup of Germany has clearly become diversified. Data in 2000 shows that 41,300 children born of parents with non-Germany citizenship became German by birth; in 2001 the figure was 38,600. Without the new rule, these children would have appeared among the statistics on the foreign population and therefore would have increased the number of foreigners by about 80,000. With the continuous entry of temporary workers, refugees, asylum seekers from countries such as Poland, Russia, Czech Republic and Turkey, the society of Germany is bound to be characterized by diversity and dynamicity. For instance, the inflow of different culture greatly affects religion. If one would examine the history of Germany, it has been the refuge for exiled religious groups. Previously it was a Catholic country but with the rise of Protestantism and its variants, the German princes changed their alliance. Currently, the country still serves as a hodgepodge for different religions such Roman Catholic, Lutheran Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity. Immigration to Germany in past decades has seen the arrival of more foreign citizens and more religious communities. At the end of 2001, there were 7.3 million foreigners living in Germany, which meant a share of eight percent of the total population. The largest religious minority in the country is now made up of Muslims. According to Ministry of Interior estimates, about 3.2 million Muslims were living in Germany by the end of 2000, some 450,000 of them with German citizenship (Oezcan, 2003). This diversity in religion also poses challenges that may contribute to conflict. For instance, the headscarf incidence was a display of how the German society is coping with the different religions. This incidence was a manifestation of conflict between the country's religious freedom and secularism. In the end, the German court has ruled against the nursery teacher for wearing a head scarf in class. To the woman, the scarf symbolized her faith and adherence to Islam but it was interpreted differently by the judiciary. Aside from the conflict in religion and ethnic minorities, women are also affected by migration in Germany. The inflow of foreign workers includes women who seek economic empowerment through employment and better wages. It is a fact that most women who migrate from developing countries are less paid or unpaid (Shah, 2007). Migration is an attractive option as seen in the case of migrant women in Germany who receive better remuneration compared to their home country. However, this economic empowerment and security comes with a price such as inequality and less tolerance of cultural diversity. Issues such as human trafficking are also unavoidable. Human trafficking for sex and labor exploitation has seen a distributing acceleration in all regions of the world (Global Fund for Women, 2007). With the entry of migrant women from Poland, Czech Republic and Turkey to Germany, human trafficking is also a threat and a source of conflict. Conclusion The effects of migration and immigration on Germany's religion, women and ethnic minorities are quite evident. There are costs and benefits attached to this phenomenon. First and foremost, the inflow of foreign workers and other ethnic minorities in Germany increases diversity especially in issues such as religion. For instance, Muslims are a growing population in the country and this indicates the need for tolerance and openness. If the country wants economic development to occur, it needs more manpower especially with an aging population. On a more micro level, the phenomenon of migrations brings about economic empowerment for migrant women as well as ethnic minorities. Women are usually less paid or unpaid for the work they do in their home countries. It is also perceived that women are limited to household work alone. However, the increased mobility of labor changes these paradoxes. The inevitability of migration and immigration in a globalized world calls for efficient and effective policies not only in the host countries but those sending as well. With such policies, the benefits will be maximized and costs are reduced. REFERENCES Global Fund for Women (2007). "Issues". Available On-line. Accessed from http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/cms/issues/overview/ on April 10, 2008. Hollifield, James F. (1997). Immigration and Integration in Western Europe. In McCarer, Emek M. and Puchala, Donald J. Immigration into Western Societies: Problems and Policies. London: Pinter Publishing. Massey, Douglas, et.al (1998). Worlds in Motion: Understanding International Migration at the End of the Millennium. New York: Oxford University Press. Oezcan Veysel. (2004). "Germany: Immigration in Transition". Available On-line. Accessed from http://www.migrationinformation.org/Profiles/display.cfmid=235 on April 10, 2008. Oezcan, Veysel. (2003). "Gender, Religion and Secularism Meet in Germany's Headscarf Battle". Available On-line. Accessed from http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfmID=102 on April 10, 2008. Shah, Anup. (2007). "Women's Rights". Available On-line. Accessed from http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/WomensRights.asp on April 10, 2008. Read More