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examBoard: Cambridge
examType: IGCSE
lessonTitle: Impact of migration - negative perceptions of migrants
Migration is one of the most visible aspects of globalisation. As people move across borders in search of better opportunities, safety, or new experiences, their presence can trigger various reactions in host societies. While migration brings many benefits, negative perceptions of migrants are common and can contribute to inequalities between and within societies.
Key Definitions:
Economic migration: People moving to find work or better economic opportunities
Forced migration: People fleeing conflict, persecution, or natural disasters
Family reunification: People joining family members who have already migrated
Lifestyle migration: People moving for a better quality of life (often retirees)
"They take our jobs" - Economic threat perception
"They don't integrate" - Cultural threat perception
"They're a burden on public services" - Resource competition perception
"They increase crime" - Security threat perception
The media plays a crucial role in shaping how migrants are perceived. News coverage, language choices and visual imagery all influence public opinion, often reinforcing negative stereotypes.
Research shows that media coverage of migration often focuses on problems rather than benefits. Migrants may be portrayed as:
Words like "swarm," "flood," or "invasion" dehumanise migrants and create a sense of threat.
Images of large groups arriving at borders can create impressions of uncontrolled migration and overwhelming numbers.
Focusing on negative stories while ignoring positive contributions of migrants creates an unbalanced narrative.
Leading up to the Brexit referendum in 2016, several UK tabloid newspapers ran frequent negative stories about EU migrants. Headlines focused on benefit claims, pressure on public services and criminal activities. Research by King's College London found that migrants were portrayed as a burden in 46% of articles, while only 10% of articles mentioned their economic or cultural contributions. This coverage correlated with increased public concern about immigration, despite evidence showing EU migrants were net contributors to the UK economy.
Economic concerns are among the most common negative perceptions about migration. These often focus on competition for jobs, wage depression and strain on public services.
Many people worry that migrants will compete for jobs with native workers, especially during economic downturns. This perception is particularly strong regarding low-skilled jobs.
Many believe that migrants are willing to work for lower wages, pushing down pay for everyone and taking jobs from local workers. There's also concern that employers prefer to hire migrants who might accept poorer working conditions.
Most economic research shows migration has minimal impact on overall employment rates or wages. However, effects can vary by sector and skill level. Low-skilled workers in certain industries may face more competition, while other sectors often experience labour shortages that migrants help fill.
Another common negative perception is that migrants place excessive demands on public services like healthcare, education and housing, or that they claim benefits without contributing.
This perception focuses on the idea that migrants receive more in benefits and services than they contribute through taxes and economic activity.
Research by the Oxford Economics think tank found that the average European migrant in the UK contributes approximately £2,300 more to public finances each year than the average UK resident. However, public perception often doesn't match this reality. A 2018 Ipsos MORI survey found that Britons believed immigrants made up 24% of the population (the actual figure was around 13%) and that they thought immigrants received more in benefits than they contributed (contrary to most fiscal impact studies).
Beyond economic concerns, negative perceptions often focus on cultural differences and social integration.
Some people worry that increased migration will change the cultural character of their society. This can include concerns about language, religion, values and traditions. The perception that migrants "don't want to integrate" can lead to resentment and social division.
When migrants settle in concentrated areas, this can sometimes lead to perceptions of "parallel societies" or "ghettoisation." Language barriers and cultural differences can make social integration challenging, reinforcing negative stereotypes on both sides.
Concerns about security and crime are powerful drivers of negative perceptions about migrants, often amplified by high-profile incidents and media coverage.
The association between migration and crime is a persistent theme in anti-immigration rhetoric, despite evidence showing migrants are typically less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens.
Following the arrival of over a million refugees in Germany in 2015-2016, there was widespread concern about increased crime. While some areas did see increases in certain types of crime, comprehensive studies by the German Federal Criminal Police Office found that refugees were no more likely to commit crimes than comparable groups of German nationals when accounting for age, gender and socioeconomic factors. However, public perception remained influenced by high-profile incidents that received extensive media coverage.
Negative perceptions of migrants don't just reflect existing inequalities – they actively create and reinforce them through various mechanisms:
Negative stereotypes can lead to discrimination in employment, housing and education, creating barriers to social mobility for migrants.
Public anxiety about migration often leads to restrictive policies that can increase vulnerability and exploitation of migrants.
Hostility toward migrants can lead to social isolation, preventing full participation in society and limiting opportunities.
Negative perceptions of migrants are often based on a complex mix of genuine concerns, misunderstandings and sometimes deliberate misinformation. These perceptions have real consequences for both migrants and host societies, potentially increasing inequality and preventing the realisation of migration's potential benefits.
Understanding why these perceptions exist, how they spread and their relationship to actual evidence is crucial for addressing the challenges of migration in a globalised world. By examining these perceptions critically, we can work toward more informed discussions about migration policy and practice.
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