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 07.06.2025 Halldór Þegar þeir sem segjast þjóna þjóðinni ráðast á hana Ágústa Árnadóttir Skoðun Faglegt mat eða lukka? II. Viðurkenning og höfnun Bogi Ragnarsson Skoðun Krabbameinsfélagið í stafni í aðdraganda storms Halla Þorvaldsdóttir Skoðun 1 stk. ísl. ríkisborgararéttur - kr. 1,600 Róbert Björnsson Skoðun Engu slaufað Skoðun „Elska skaltu náunga þinn“ – gegn rasisma, hatri og sögufölsunum öfga hægrisins Guðrún Ósk Þórudóttir Skoðun Lénsherratímabilið er hafið Einar G Harðarson Skoðun Þéttur eða þríklofinn Sjálfstæðisflokkur Sara Björg Sigurðardóttir Skoðun Faglegt mat eða lukka? I: Frá kennslustofu til stafbókar Bogi Ragnarsson Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Fagmennska, fræðileg þekking, samráð, samvinna, þarfir og vilji barna og ungmenna eru grundvallaratriði Árni Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Engu slaufað skrifar Skoðun Faglegt mat eða lukka? II. Viðurkenning og höfnun Bogi Ragnarsson skrifar Skoðun Krabbameinsfélagið í stafni í aðdraganda storms Halla Þorvaldsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Lénsherratímabilið er hafið Einar G Harðarson skrifar Skoðun Þéttur eða þríklofinn Sjálfstæðisflokkur Sara Björg Sigurðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Bras og brall við gerð Brákarborgar Helgi Áss Grétarsson skrifar Skoðun Getur uppbyggilegur fréttaflutningur aukið velsæld í íslensku samfélagi? Ása Fríða Kjartansdóttir, Dóra Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir skrifar Skoðun „Elska skaltu náunga þinn“ – gegn rasisma, hatri og sögufölsunum öfga hægrisins Guðrún Ósk Þórudóttir skrifar Skoðun Ósk um sérbýli, garð og rólegt umhverfi dregur fólk frá höfuðborgarsvæðinu Margrét Þóra Sæmundsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Auðlindarentan heim í hérað Arna Lára Jónsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Héraðsvötn og Kjalölduveitu í nýtingarflokk Jens Garðar Helgason,Ólafur Adolfsson skrifar Skoðun Eru borgir barnvænar? Þétting byggðar og staða barna í skipulagi Lára Ingimundardóttir skrifar Skoðun Hvað kosta mannréttindi? Anna Lára Steindal skrifar Skoðun Faglegt mat eða lukka? I: Frá kennslustofu til stafbókar Bogi Ragnarsson skrifar Skoðun Hvers vegna ekki bókun 35? Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun 1 stk. ísl. ríkisborgararéttur - kr. 1,600 Róbert Björnsson skrifar Skoðun Ný nálgun fyrir börn með fjölþættan vanda Guðmundur Ingi Þóroddsson,Guðbjörg Sveinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Setjum kraft í íslenskukennslu fullorðinna Anna Linda Sigurðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Áhrif veiðigjalda ná út fyrir atvinnugreinina Ásgerður Kristín Gylfadóttir skrifar Skoðun Við stöndum með Anahitu og Elissu Valgerður Árnadóttir,Rósa Líf Darradóttir,Aldís Amah Hamilton,Þorgerður María Þorbjarnardóttir,Árni Finnsson skrifar Skoðun RÚV - ljósritunarstofa ríkisins? Birgir Finnsson skrifar Skoðun Að vera hvítur og kristinn Guðbrandur Einarsson skrifar Skoðun Heilbrigðisþjónusta í heimabyggð – loksins orðin að veruleika Anton Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Komum heil heim eftir hvítasunnuhelgina Ágúst Mogensen skrifar Skoðun Leiðin til Parísar (bókstaflega) Ólafur St. Arnarsson skrifar Skoðun Ósnertanlegir eineltisseggir og óhæfir starfsmenn Diljá Mist Einarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Opinber skýring til Sigurjóns Þórðarsonar Heiðrún Lind Marteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Ekkert kerfi lifir af pólitískan geðþótta Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Þegar undirskrift skiptir máli – um gervigreind, vottun og verðmæti mannlegra athafna Henning Arnór Úlfarsson 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
„Elska skaltu náunga þinn“ – gegn rasisma, hatri og sögufölsunum öfga hægrisins Guðrún Ósk Þórudóttir Skoðun
Skoðun Fagmennska, fræðileg þekking, samráð, samvinna, þarfir og vilji barna og ungmenna eru grundvallaratriði Árni Guðmundsson skrifar
Skoðun Getur uppbyggilegur fréttaflutningur aukið velsæld í íslensku samfélagi? Ása Fríða Kjartansdóttir, Dóra Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun „Elska skaltu náunga þinn“ – gegn rasisma, hatri og sögufölsunum öfga hægrisins Guðrún Ósk Þórudóttir skrifar
Skoðun Ósk um sérbýli, garð og rólegt umhverfi dregur fólk frá höfuðborgarsvæðinu Margrét Þóra Sæmundsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Eru borgir barnvænar? Þétting byggðar og staða barna í skipulagi Lára Ingimundardóttir skrifar
Skoðun Ný nálgun fyrir börn með fjölþættan vanda Guðmundur Ingi Þóroddsson,Guðbjörg Sveinsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Við stöndum með Anahitu og Elissu Valgerður Árnadóttir,Rósa Líf Darradóttir,Aldís Amah Hamilton,Þorgerður María Þorbjarnardóttir,Árni Finnsson skrifar
Skoðun Þegar undirskrift skiptir máli – um gervigreind, vottun og verðmæti mannlegra athafna Henning Arnór Úlfarsson skrifar
„Elska skaltu náunga þinn“ – gegn rasisma, hatri og sögufölsunum öfga hægrisins Guðrún Ósk Þórudóttir Skoðun