Finnishness must be redefined

What is Finnishness? Who is a Finn? The category and concept of Finnishness needs to be expanded as our demographic structure reforms. Only then will we make the voices of all Finns heard. Current views of Finnishness affect the well-being of people living in Finland and their families, the racism and discrimination they experience and their desire to be part of society. It is time to bring Finnish diversity to the front.

The concept of Finnishness is diverse and owned by many. It is worth to remember that Finnish history has always had its own minorities: the Sami and the Romani. To imagine that there is any real Finnishness, that we have been monocultural, is an illusion. We have been multicultural for centuries.  

An interesting point that is not often enough made in public is that Finns have not always belonged to the so-called white race category but have negotiated themselves into it in the 19th century. The rise of nationalism in the 19th century added to the idea of one true language, nationality and religion. But at the same time, it excluded the diversity that existed in Finland. Fortunately, the assumption that whiteness is part of Finnishness has been increasingly questioned in recent years.

We need more open debate in our society about who we Finns have been and, more importantly, who we are now. Especially at a time when extremist movements and the far right talk about restricting people's movement, hatred of non-whites and fear of multiculturalism changing something that is 'unified, established' in Finland, but which in reality has never existed. We need it so that everyone living here can feel part of Finland. We need an update on the illusion of the blonde Elovena girl.

Everyone must have the right to define their relationship to Finnishness. Immigrants living in Finland who have been able to live in Finland for decades and have acquired citizenship are still being questioned about their Finnishness. Equally, everyone should have the same right to be Finnish, whether they are adopted, have moved here from elsewhere, were born in Finland, have parents who moved to Finland from elsewhere or are mixed Finns.  

The message that needs to be heard more is that the category and concept of Finnishness must be broadened. Only then will we make the voices of all Finns heard. There is no true Finnishness that is shared by everyone. Finnishness could be said to be a matter of constant negotiation. Prevailing perceptions of Finnishness affect Finland and the people living in Finland, their and their families well-being and the racism and discrimination they experience, as well as their desire to be part of society.  

A big responsibility for those in power 

When we talk about Finnish two-culture kids, mixed Finns, young people who have grown up in a multicultural family are often in a contradictory position in society and in their families. Children, young people and adults of two cultures are Finns, not immigrants, although they are sometimes wrongly called so. 

In their families, young people create a so-called third culture from their parents' cultures. The need, often arising from the society around them, to define people as belonging to only one particular culture, for example, leads these young people to reflect on their own identity and how they see themselves. Many bicultural young people experience prejudices and doubts about their Finnishness. It is difficult for people to understand that they are both Finnish and part of another culture. 

Every third young person born in Finland does not feel Finnish, according to a survey published by Statistics Finland in 2017. The report covered the identification of young people with foreign background with Finland and their background country. Respondents said they felt that being Finnish is a truly closed category and that they are viewed negatively by native Finns. The results of the report were found to signal that the concept of Finnishness is in need of renewal as our demographic structure reforms.  

It matters what is said and how it is said. Everyone can influence what and who counts as Finnish by their own definitions and actions. It can be challenging to feel Finnish if the people around you define you as a foreigner. Public authorities bear a particularly heavy responsibility for the way they talk about us Finns.

Who then has the right to define someone else's identity? Or does anyone really? If we think only officially that once you have Finnish citizenship, you are a Finn. Everything else is really a definition of identity, opinion and emotion.

It is time to bring out the diversity of Finland. Bringing this issue into the public debate is important for all of us, but especially for those whose Finnishness is questioned in Finland on a daily basis. It is time to give a voice to those whose well-being is affected by the exclusion from Finnishness. It is time to define what Finnishness is now - Finnishness 2.0.