White Flight in Finland? A Qualitative Study into Finnish-born Families Housing and School Choices in Turku,

Abstract

White flight refers to a phenomenon whereby native middle class residents avoid or move away from areas with immigrant concentrations thereby contributing to ethnic and residential segregation. The recent increase in immigration into Finland has spurred public debates suggesting that white flight - in connection with school choices - might also be happening in Finland. In this article, the phenomenon is scrutinized and unravelled conceptually. The discussion draws on a recent qualitative study undertaken in Turku. The study involved 31 in-depth interviews with native Finnish parents of primary- and preschool aged children. The results indicate that neither the schools nor immigration determined families housing decisions that were, ultimately, multifaceted and situated within specific life courses and circumstances. Mainly thematic but also discourse and life course analysis methods were employed to tease out nuances around talk and action, also helping to further understand the dynamics of attitudes in this context.