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 Stærðfræðikennari sem kann ekki að reikna? (Og getur ekki lært það!) Brynjólfur Þorvarðsson Skoðun Laxaharmleikur Jóhannes Sturlaugsson Skoðun Íslendingar greiða sama hlutfall útgjalda í mat og Norðurlöndin Margrét Gísladóttir Skoðun Ferðamannaþorpin - Náttúruvá Þóra B. Hafsteinsdóttir Skoðun Vonarsvæði fyrir framtíðina – ábyrgð stjórnvalda kallar á verndun Huld Hafliðadóttir,Heimir Harðarson Skoðun Lýðræðið í skötulíki! Lilja Rafney Magnúsdóttir Skoðun Krónan, Nettó, Hagkaup, Bónus - það er kominn tími á formlega sniðgöngu Helen Ólafsdóttir Skoðun Ef Veðurstofan spáði vitlausu veðri í 40 ár, væri það bara í lagi? Björn Ólafsson Skoðun „Finnst ykkur skrýtið að ég mæti á Austurvöll – Pabba mínum var fórnað á altari niðurskurðar“ Davíð Bergmann Skoðun Málfrelsi og mörk þess á vettvangi lýðræðisins Helga Vala Helgadóttir Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Ferðamannaþorpin - Náttúruvá Þóra B. Hafsteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Vonarsvæði fyrir framtíðina – ábyrgð stjórnvalda kallar á verndun Huld Hafliðadóttir,Heimir Harðarson skrifar Skoðun Laxaharmleikur Jóhannes Sturlaugsson skrifar Skoðun Lýðræðið í skötulíki! Lilja Rafney Magnúsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Stærðfræðikennari sem kann ekki að reikna? (Og getur ekki lært það!) Brynjólfur Þorvarðsson skrifar Skoðun Íslendingar greiða sama hlutfall útgjalda í mat og Norðurlöndin Margrét Gísladóttir skrifar Skoðun Til varnar jafnlaunavottun Magnea Marinósdóttir skrifar Skoðun Heimaþjónusta og velferðartækni: Lykillinn að sjálfbæru heilbrigðiskerfi Auður Guðmundsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Barnaræninginn Pútín Gunnar Hólmsteinn Ársælsson skrifar Skoðun Um þjóð og ríki Gauti Kristmannsson skrifar Skoðun Málfrelsi og mörk þess á vettvangi lýðræðisins Helga Vala Helgadóttir skrifar Skoðun Sjókvíaeldi á Íslandi fjarstýrt með gervigreind frá Noregi Ingólfur Ásgeirsson skrifar Skoðun „Finnst ykkur skrýtið að ég mæti á Austurvöll – Pabba mínum var fórnað á altari niðurskurðar“ Davíð Bergmann skrifar Skoðun Hvers vegna skipta hagsmunir verslanakeðja meira máli en öryggi barna í Ásahverfi Reykjanesbæ? Ólafur Ívar Jónsson skrifar Skoðun Kjarnorkuákvæðið: Neyðarhemill en ekki léttvægt leikfang popúlista Kristinn Karl Brynjarsson skrifar Skoðun Stjórnarandstaðan er vannýtt auðlind Jón Daníelsson skrifar Skoðun Ef Veðurstofan spáði vitlausu veðri í 40 ár, væri það bara í lagi? Björn Ólafsson skrifar Skoðun Hægri sósíalismi Jón Ingi Hákonarson skrifar Skoðun 5 ára vegferð að skóla framtíðarinnar – eða ekki! Björgmundur Örn Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Ójafnvægi í jöfnunarkerfinu Anna Sigríður Guðnadóttir,Halla Karen Kristjánsdóttir,Lovísa Jónsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Það sem ekki má segja um það sem enginn vill sjá Viðar Hreinsson skrifar Skoðun Krónan, Nettó, Hagkaup, Bónus - það er kominn tími á formlega sniðgöngu Helen Ólafsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Löggæslumál og aðstöðuleysi í Búðardal – ákall um viðbragð og aðgerðir Björn Bjarki Þorsteinsson skrifar Skoðun Listin að verða fullkomlega ósammála sjálfri sér á mettíma Þórður Snær Júlíusson skrifar Skoðun Þingmenn auðvaldsins Karl Héðinn Kristjánsson skrifar Skoðun Arðgreiðslur í sjávarútvegi: Staðreyndir gegn fullyrðingum Elliði Vignisson skrifar Skoðun Verðugur bandamaður? Steinar Harðarson skrifar Skoðun Við þurfum nýja sýn á stjórnmál okkar - Mamdani-sýn Hlynur Már Vilhjálmsson skrifar Skoðun Sósíalistaflokkurinn heimilislaus - hvað næst? Trausti Breiðfjörð Magnússon skrifar Skoðun Rán um hábjartan dag Guðbergur Egill Eyjólfsson 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
Vonarsvæði fyrir framtíðina – ábyrgð stjórnvalda kallar á verndun Huld Hafliðadóttir,Heimir Harðarson Skoðun
„Finnst ykkur skrýtið að ég mæti á Austurvöll – Pabba mínum var fórnað á altari niðurskurðar“ Davíð Bergmann Skoðun
Skoðun Vonarsvæði fyrir framtíðina – ábyrgð stjórnvalda kallar á verndun Huld Hafliðadóttir,Heimir Harðarson skrifar
Skoðun Stærðfræðikennari sem kann ekki að reikna? (Og getur ekki lært það!) Brynjólfur Þorvarðsson skrifar
Skoðun Íslendingar greiða sama hlutfall útgjalda í mat og Norðurlöndin Margrét Gísladóttir skrifar
Skoðun Heimaþjónusta og velferðartækni: Lykillinn að sjálfbæru heilbrigðiskerfi Auður Guðmundsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun „Finnst ykkur skrýtið að ég mæti á Austurvöll – Pabba mínum var fórnað á altari niðurskurðar“ Davíð Bergmann skrifar
Skoðun Hvers vegna skipta hagsmunir verslanakeðja meira máli en öryggi barna í Ásahverfi Reykjanesbæ? Ólafur Ívar Jónsson skrifar
Skoðun Kjarnorkuákvæðið: Neyðarhemill en ekki léttvægt leikfang popúlista Kristinn Karl Brynjarsson skrifar
Skoðun Ójafnvægi í jöfnunarkerfinu Anna Sigríður Guðnadóttir,Halla Karen Kristjánsdóttir,Lovísa Jónsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Krónan, Nettó, Hagkaup, Bónus - það er kominn tími á formlega sniðgöngu Helen Ólafsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Löggæslumál og aðstöðuleysi í Búðardal – ákall um viðbragð og aðgerðir Björn Bjarki Þorsteinsson skrifar
Vonarsvæði fyrir framtíðina – ábyrgð stjórnvalda kallar á verndun Huld Hafliðadóttir,Heimir Harðarson Skoðun
„Finnst ykkur skrýtið að ég mæti á Austurvöll – Pabba mínum var fórnað á altari niðurskurðar“ Davíð Bergmann Skoðun