Why can't migrant women speak in Sheffield?
At Festival of Debate, Louise Armstrong hears from migrant women about barriers, belonging and being heard.
Seven years ago, journalist and author Livia Barreira moved from Brazil to Sheffield and started her new life. She is an accomplished, hard-working woman but felt, when she came to the UK, that it wasn't just her life in Brazil she had lost, but also her voice.
Livia is just one of many migrant women living in Sheffield and the UK but her feelings of being silenced are shared by many, leading us onto the question of why this is happening.
At Festival of Debate last week, Livia, alongside Dr. Patricia Nabuco Martuscelli, hosted an event called “Can Migrant Women Speak in Sheffield?”, which aimed to explore this issue.
Language is just one of many obstacles migrants face when moving to a new country. Migrating is essentially leaving your comfort blanket of family and friends and a job, to start over again in an unfamiliar place.
Dr Patricia Nabuco Martuscelli said:
It can be lonely, too. Adjusting to a new life while trying to build relationships and get accustomed to a whole new culture is a difficult juggling act.
During this time, it also leaves migrants, especially women, in a place of vulnerability, which makes the need for their voice being heard even more crucial.
Livia said:
The loss of a voice not only makes things harder for a migrant, but it is also detrimental to society. When groups don't feel like they belong, they are less likely to engage with other people, instead staying in social bubbles where they feel they are accepted, resulting in a fragmented society.
Livia added:
Sheffield is an ever-growing, diverse city where according to Office of National Statistics in 2021, 16.4% of the population were not born in the UK. That is a significant chunk of the city who potentially feel as though they are not heard.
Politics was also discussed as a potential barrier for migrants in terms of having a voice and feeling unified.
Dr Nabuco Martuscelli added:
Not only do narratives like this fuel xenophobia and racism, but it also positions migrants away from society. Rules surrounding visas and migration law also have the same effect and both can demean what place a migrant feels they have in England.
Livia said:
Of course, election law is something out of our control but providing a welcoming society isn’t.
Livia continued:
When diversity is embraced, everyone benefits from a more well-rounded and just society, and migration is just an element of this. The more of us grasp onto this, the more we can help transform where we live to its full potential.