This study aligns with postcolonial feminist critiques of emancipation discourse embedded in activation policies targeting migrant women. It highlights how such discourse disregards the systemic barriers these women face when (re)entering the labour market. Through critical discourse analysis, we investigate how street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) interact with emancipation discourse during policy implementation. By conducting an ethnographic study of an activation programme in Belgium, using various methods of data collection – document reviews, interviews, and participatory observation – we illuminate the challenges SLBs encounter in translating activation policies into practice. While SLBs critique emancipation discourse for concealing controversial and exploitative aspects of activation policies, they struggle to change the discourse and foster bottom-up policy innovation. Contributions to the understanding of SLBs’ policy implementation challenges are two-fold. While previous studies focused on operational constraints, this study emphasises the significance of policy discourses in shaping SLBs’ sensemaking and operational role. It also exposes how emancipation discourse generates a hidden trap within SLBs’ professional identity, wherein even their benevolent intentions inadvertently reinforce existing social hierarchies.
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