This article explores how hegemonic gender beliefs allow racially stigmatized men to gain status in women-dominated care work settings in Germany. Through ethnographic research conducted in elder care homes, the study examines the experiences of migrant men from countries in West Asia and Africa who do professional care work in German elder care homes, highlighting the duality of their position as both stigmatized and valorized racialized men. While these men face mistrust stemming from racialized gender stereotypes, they also benefit from cultural expectations that valorize “masculine” qualities in institutional care work settings. The findings reveal how racial disadvantage coexists with gendered valorization in feminized types of work, requiring migrant men to navigate a complex landscape of deeply entrenched gendered and racial stereotypes. They further show how the partial destabilization of racial inequalities simultaneously reproduces deeply entrenched gender inequalities.
Plain Language Summary
How Migrant Men Gain Status in German Care Homes
This article examines how migrant men from West Asia and Africa experience elder care work in Germany. Although they face mistrust due to racial stereotypes, they are also valued for traits seen as “masculine,” such as strength and rationality. The study shows how racial disadvantage and gender-based advantages can exist at the same time, partly challenging racial hierarchies while reinforcing traditional gender inequalities.
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