Closing the Opportunity Gap for Socially Vulnerable Young Women in Germany

The main focus of the doctoral dissertation was exploring opportunities for education and a better quality of life available to third- and fourth-generation socially vulnerable Turkish origin young women living in Germany. Participants (aged 13-21 years old) were sampled from schools in the most socially vulnerable regions in Germany with the support of Ministry of Education of North Rheine Westphalia. The theoretical frame of this study is the capability approach; mainly Sen`s (2009) approach to welfare and well-being as well as Martha Nussbaum`s concept of education and agency (2013). Data collection methods included focus groups, a socio-economic questionnaire, and in-depth individual life history interviews. A grounded theory approach (Charmaz 2014) was used to analyze the data. One main result of the doctoral research has been that this exclusion was a result of a lack of necessary structures and systems in Germany for inclusion, such as citizenship rights and structural opportunities provided in the welfare and education system (education is embedded in welfare in Germany). This presentation will discuss the types of policies needed for closing the opportunity gap in education and welfare system, especially to provide equal opportunities for socially vulnerable young women in Germany.

 References

Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing Grounded Theory. London: Sega Publication.

Nussbaum, M. (2013). Political Emotions: Why Love Matters for Justice. USA: Harvard University Press.

Sen, A. (2009). The Idea of Justice. USA: Harvard University Press