Inter Ethnic Marriage In The Netherlands 2009

3 april 2009 Hans Rohlof

Inter-ethnic marriage in the Netherlands

3 april 2009 Hans Rohlof2 INTERETHNIC MARRIAGE IN THE NETHERLANDS

Geen belangenverstrengeling

• Ik, of een familielid in de eerste graad, heb geen significant financieel belang bij of ander belang met een commercieel product /organisatie dat direct of indirect een relatie heeft met het wetenschappelijk programma

• Ik bespreek geen commerciële producten, of experimenteel gebruik van een product dat niet is goedgekeurd voor dit gebruik gedurende de presentatie tijdens het wetenschappelijke programma.


Najib and Julia (by Theo van Gogh)


Content lecture

• Numbers: population, marriages• Possible reasons for success and failure in inter-

ethnic relationships• Clinical implications• Case vignettes• Conclusions


Population in NL, in 1000s (1.1.2007)(C.B.S., 2007)

1,432845587Western ‘allochtoon’

1,7387231,015Non-Western ‘allochtoon’

13,184‘Autochtoon’

(Dutch)

16,354Total

TotalSecond generation

First generation


Population in NL, in 1000s (1.1.2007)

390264126Indonesia

742746Latin Am.

31291222Asia

19272119Africa

1295179Neth.Ant.

333147186Surinam

329161168Morocco

369173195Turkey

TotalSecond generFirst generorigin


Prognosis population (2015)

1,525870655Western ‘allochtoon’

1,9308941.036Non-western ‘allochtoon’

13,141‘Autochtoon’

(Dutch)

16,595Total

TotalSecond generation

First generation


Divorce percentages after 10 years (van Huis & Steenhof, 2003)

294454Non-western all.

352124Western all.

302317Dutch

Female non-western all.

Female western all.

Female DutchMale


Marriages in 4 groups (1.1.01)(van Huis & Steenhof, 2003; Janssen, 2002)

(20 % of all marriages in 2001)

11.638.449.269.1Total (x 1000)

12.79.05.810.4Other

0.00.30.10.8m f 2nd

9.45.10.30.4m D f 2nd

7.14.60.20.3m 2nd f D

23.616.42.11.0m D f 1st

21.010.94.63,3m 1st f D

26.153.686.783.9m/f same 1st gen

Neth.Ant.SurinamMoroccoTurkey%


Divorce percentages after 10 years, specific populations

17M + f D

35433120m+f 1st gen

2928(n.m.)(n.m.)m D f 1st gen

41307469m 1st gen f D

Neth. Ant.

SurinamMoroccoTurkeyDutch%


Qualitative research (Dormans, 1999)

• 15 mixed couples (Turkish males/Dutch women; quite modern/ not practicing Muslims) vs. 5 unmixed couples

• Rules: about friends, about education, about intimacy, about communication.

• Problems in both groups: problems with friends of different gender, showing affection to others.

• Problems in mixed couples: directive versus nondirective style of communication, education, lack of freedom, not being able to swear in conflicts.

• Explanation differs: e.g. problems with friends of different gender: based on personality or culture. Leads to other attitude.


Clinical implications

• More inter-ethnic marriages in clinical practice: marriages as metaphor for multicultural society

• Conflicts arise often about rules and models in relations

• Importance to get information about hidden and informal rules in relations

• Rules can give information about acceptance of culture

• Culture can be used as excuse for differences


Clinical Vignette

• Afghani man and Russian woman• Avoidance of visits to Afghani families• Different views on education of children• At the end acceptance of each others cultures and

personalities


Clinical Vignette 2

• Persian male and Dutch female• Many conflicts about territory and upbringing of

children• During conflicts sudden authoritarian attitude of

man• Great acceptance of behavior of man by woman• Still proceeding therapy


Conclusions

• Inter-ethnic marriage counseling asks for specialized therapists who know about

• Common mechanisms in marriage counseling• Specific rules, norms and values in specific

cultures• Specific aspects of inter-ethnic relations (e.g. use

of culture as excuse for differences)• Do opposites attract divorce?


Do opposites attract divorce?

• Yes, when you look to percentages• No, when you look to exceptions: in higher social

class, in intellectual environment.

Consult our website www.centrum45.nl for further information.

Inter Ethnic Marriage In The Netherlands 2009

Health & Medicine

Transcript of Inter Ethnic Marriage In The Netherlands 2009