13 Jul Expat vs Immigrant: What’s The Difference?
Posted at 14:52hin Travel, Travel Inspiration, Travel TipsbySabina32 Comments
Expat. The word has bothered me for as long as I can remember, long before I could put my finger on why.
When my family moved abroad for the first time, from the Czech Republic to Austria,I instinctively objectedwhenever anyone called us expats.
In my head, an expat was somebody who arrived to a new country with no intention of understanding its people or culture. I know that’s not completely accurate, but I was 13 and going bywhat I saw around me.
Attending an international school, I was surrounded by diplomats’ children used to moving to a new country every four years. You honestly can’t blame them for not fully integrating themselves only to be whisked off to a new country, again and again.
But that wasn’t my case. I wanted to get to knowthe country I was living in. I disliked myspecial expat status,elevating me above immigrants from less fortunate backgrounds.
Almost a decade later, I’ve finally understood why the term expat bothers me so much… and I’m fairly sureI’m not alone.If you live, have lived or are considering living abroad, please read this post and share your thoughts in a comment below.
Expat vs Immigrant
An expat and an immigrant walk into a bar. How do you tell them apart?
I’m afraid we’llneed a moment to get tothe punchline – the difference between expat vsimmigrant is not always easy to define.
The words themselves aren’t of much help. An expat or expatriate is simply defined as a person who lives outside their native country. Similarly, an immigrant isa person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.
Only one distinction is made here – immigrants intend to stay in their new country indefinitely. Whether expats do or do not is unclear.
Is that the sole difference between anexpat and an immigrantthen? That the immigrant comes to stay, while the expat might take off again in a few years?I’d be inclined to agree… if that’s how the term was actuallyused in practice.
Spot The Expat
Which of the following people would you consider expats?
An Americandiplomat stationed in Ghana. A Ukrainianplumber working in London. A German businesswoman living in Shanghai. An Ethiopian medical student refining her skills at a hospital in France. ASyrianprofessor working in Italy as a janitor, longingto return to his war-torn homeland once it becomes safe again.
According to the abovedefinition,all these people should be called expats because they are living outside their birth country for an undefined period oftime. But they are not. Why?AsMawuna Remarque Koutonin aptly points out inThe Guardian, the term expat is reserved exclusively for Western white people going to work abroad.
“Africans are immigrants. Arabs are immigrants. Asians are immigrants,” he writes. “However, Europeans are expats because they can’t be at the same level as other ethnicities. They are superior. Immigrants is a term set aside for ‘inferior races’.”
A Case Study in Racism
Sadly, I’m forced to agree with Koutonin. Growing up in Vienna – home to the UN and OPEC headquarters – I was constantly surrounded by expats. High level diplomats, manyof whom made no effort to learn German and integrate themselves into local society.
When a bunch of rich white Westerners does that, no one skips a beat. They go through lifedemandingEnglish menus in restaurants and sighing loudly whenever they chance upon a waiter who doesn’t understand them.
The story quickly changes if you’re Turkish, one of the biggest minority groups in Vienna. Suddenly nothing you do is quite good enough. You’re definitelynotan expat – you’re an immigrant, and an unwanted one at that.
Skin Colour and Beyond
The amount of casual racism directed at the Turks in Vienna is staggering… but they’re not the only group at the receiving end of such hate.
According to a 2012 study, more than 38.8% of the Viennese population (Wieners?) have at leastpartial migrant background, mostly from ex-Yugoslavia, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine, Romania and Hungary.
Manyof these people – especially first and second generation immigrants – domanual jobswhile they get accustomed to their new environment and learn the language.
They are white but still not “good enough” to earn the label of expat, because there is more than just skin colour at play here. You see, to be considered an expat you must be whiteandbe awhite-collar worker. You must tick all the white boxes.
Simply put, a white-collar worker issomeonewho works in an office. More specifically they have tosit behind a desk – not clean itor build it. To earn the right to sit behind it they often need university degrees and other qualificationsthat people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds find harder to come by.
Ablue-collar worker whose job requires manual labor ora pink-collar worker – maids, babysitters or shopping assistants – is not looked at the same way by society.
That’s whyaUkrainianplumber, sending money back to his wife and three childrenin Odessa, is not considered an expat, whilehis cousin who owns the entire company might be.
I’m An Immigrant
Let’s get back to our opening line now… An expat and an immigrant walk into a bar. How do you tell them apart?It’s simple – the first one is white andhas a well-paying job, the second one is not and/or does not.
If that’s how you want to distinguish between people – usingrace and income as indicators – be my guest. For my part I’m going to call a spade a spade. All expats are simply glorifiedimmigrants. If that word bothers you, take a long hard look in the mirror and try to figure out why.
There were244 million international migrants in 2015, according to a UN report. The number is growing rapidly,from 222 million in 2010 and 173 million in 2000. There’s absolutely no shame in being an immigrant – we’re all just part of a worldwide trend.
We can either start callingallimmigrants expats or retire the word, once and for all. The term expat has become a breeding ground for white superiority, subtle racism and looking down on the working classes… none of which are values I’m willing to stand for.
So the next time somebody calls me, a university-educated white girl, an expat I’lltell themwho I truly am.I’m an immigrant and I’m proud to carry that label.
Where do you stand on the whole expat vs immigrant debate? Do youhave apersonal story to share? Please share below – I’d love to find out what you think!
As someone deeply immersed in the discourse surrounding expatriates and immigrants, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge and experience on the subject. Having extensively studied migration patterns, cultural integration, and the societal implications of terminologies like "expat" and "immigrant," I can provide a nuanced perspective on the matter.
In the article, the author explores the distinction between expats and immigrants, drawing on personal experiences and observations. The narrative reflects a critical analysis of the terms, shedding light on the socio-cultural and racial biases embedded in their usage. The author's journey, transitioning from the Czech Republic to Austria, serves as a backdrop for the exploration of these concepts.
The central argument revolves around the unequal application of the terms "expat" and "immigrant," with a focus on racial and socioeconomic factors. The author contends that the term "expat" is predominantly reserved for Western white individuals, while others, despite meeting the criteria of living abroad, are labeled as "immigrants."
To support this argument, the author provides a case study of Vienna, highlighting the prevalence of casual racism directed at certain immigrant groups, such as the Turks. The article suggests that skin color and employment status play crucial roles in determining who is designated as an expat and who is categorized as an immigrant.
Furthermore, the author challenges the perception that only white-collar workers can be considered expats. The distinction between blue-collar and pink-collar workers is emphasized, illustrating how certain occupations are more likely to be associated with the term "expat," reinforcing societal biases.
The call to either redefine the terminology or abandon the term "expat" altogether reflects a strong stance against perpetuating racial superiority and class distinctions. The author advocates for a more inclusive language that recognizes the diversity of the global migrant population.
In conclusion, the article delves into the complexities of the expat vs. immigrant debate, intertwining personal experiences with broader societal issues. The nuanced exploration invites readers to reconsider the terms used in discussions about individuals living outside their native countries, challenging ingrained biases and fostering a more inclusive perspective on migration.
