Entrepreneurship as Social Status: Turkish Immigrants’ Experiences of Self-Employment in Finland

Abstract

The article discusses the experiences of self-employment among immigrants from Turkey living in Finland. The immigrants are mainly active in the restaurant and fast food sector in Finland, primarily in small kebap and pizza businesses. The article argues that both economic and social aspects explain the experiences of self-employment. Despite economic hardship, the freedom and social status connected to entrepreneurship is highly valued. Self-employment provides a positive self-understanding and a good social status, which the immigrants from Turkey find it difficult to achieve by any other means in Finnish society