Coming and staying or coming and going? Immigrant families in Denmark: Challenges and opportunities for integration

Abstract

© 2018 selection and editorial matter, Susanne Garvis and Elin Eriksen Ødegaard; individual chapters, the contributors. This chapter was inspired by personal experience and interactions with other newcomers to Denmark. It aims to provide insights into the challenges associated with moving to Denmark, some of which, such as limited employment possibilities or language barriers, are predictable. Others are less obvious, for example, perceptions of Danish society’s values and expectations of newcomers, social norms and feelings of ‘outsiderness’. Circumstances may be further complicated for families with children and may vary among family members. This chapter presents case studies to shed light on families’ challenges and the factors that influence their decisions to stay or leave.