The freedom to create (english)

Ein anonymer Gastbeitrag

TW: Rassismus

Drawn to the city's reputation for creativity and diversity, I moved to Berlin in early 2019 to join a tech/design company. Since then, I have worked with some of the big names in Berlin's start-up industry.

Germany had around 70,000 blue card holders on its Central Register of Foreigners at the end of 2021, an increase of more than six percent on the previous year. (Schengen Visa Reports, 2021). This is also a global situation. In the US, according to American Community Survey data, about 39% of software engineers were foreign-born in 2015, many times the baseline of 17% foreign-born workers in the US (American Immigration Council, 2022).

It seems like countries around the world are eager to import skilled workers from abroad. Many of these immigrant workers are designers or developers for start-up companies, as start-ups have a positive impact on economies around the world and there is a great need for these jobs. However, what I notice more and more is that these foreign workers, who come from non-EU or developing countries, mostly hold a position below the management level and are treated unfairly in the workplace.

I do not mean to dismiss the advantage or privilege of being able to "escape" to Europe or the US and live there because of one's job – it is the dream of many people. However, we should never neglect discrimination or abuse when it comes to the exploitation of these immigrant workers.

We are paid less than comparable local workers, we are forced to work longer hours and under greater stress, we have fewer opportunities for promotion, and we cannot leave the company easily because we depend on the work visa that the company has provided us. As we are usually not fluent in the local language, we often feel isolated from society, which means that we have less access to social support or legal help in extreme situations. Not to mention microaggressions and racism in the workplace. There are extreme cases of discrimination where, for example, an employee of color was fired because the boss felt he could no longer trust the employee after a heated discussion about why blackface is not a joke (Perlberg, 2020).

Discrimination seems to be getting worse in the creative industry. Not only does it take place in daily work, but it also directly impacts audiences and participants in the creative industries.

In a study named Berlin Experiences and Expectations: On the way toward a More Diverse Cultural Sector, the authors point out that the cultural and creative sector has failed to attract diverse audiences due to its lack of interest in marginalized/disadvantaged groups (Aikins, Bechert, Gyamerah, Wagner, 2020).

This is not solely a racism issue, but an intersection between racism, sexism, and capitalism.

Typical treatment for PoC in Berlin's creative industries.
1st scene: conversation between a manager and an employee in the office.

Are they saying…

"The manager thinks that you are not very hardworking and the others do not find it easy to work with you. You tend to challenge the decisions made by the supervisor. You are difficult to reach because you often leave the office right on time. We are sorry that we cannot give you the promotion you have requested. We have already given you the highest salary and title even though you are not from here.”

OR are they really saying ....

"We did not expect a little Chinese woman to have so many opinions and attitudes. We expect you to always smile and make compromises. And what happened to the 996 (working from 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week) work ethic? We thought all Chinese people work very hard. We are sorry that we cannot give you the promotion you want. There is a maximum salary you can get as an Asian. "

Second scene: conversation between the HR department of a Berlin start-up and a candidate.

Are they saying…

"We are a very international team. The company can offer you the privilege of relocating to beautiful Europe to live in a more civilized society. If you can prove yourself, your value, and your devotion to us during a 6-month probation period, you have the chance to get a permanent contract - which should be a dream for people like you. We offer flexible working hours, oh and by the way, you will be able to define your own growth.

OR are they really saying…

"We only hire our engineers and designers abroad because they are cheaper there, even when you factor in relocation costs. But of course, the management team will always be white. We give you the maximum probationary period, even though the law doesn't require it, because we really want you to go "the extra mile" for as long as possible, otherwise, you will lose your visa and have to go back to where you came from. We know that you will always be loyal to our company because your visa is tied to us, and we expect you to work overtime, oh and by the way, there will be no clear criteria for getting promotions.

The Silent Chinese Community
A few days ago, my friend who was born in Germany but whose parents are from China asked me why I didn't become a full-time artist or illustrator. After all, that's what I had imagined myself doing in Europe when I was stuck in China.

In the meantime, I've been in Berlin for three years, have had a couple of regular 9-5 jobs, and still don't speak much German. Apart from the occasional museum visit or clubbing, almost nothing creative or artistic happens in my life. I can’t help but think back to the time in Shanghai when we spent our own money to make illustrations and magazines, and to organize meetings and workshops for designers and artists. Back then, I even had a popular blog on WeChat that was about culture and travel.

I'm starting to wonder what happened. I used to dream of living in Europe and being a free spirit, soaking up art and doing exciting things. Why is my life now so far from what I imagined? Where did the passion go?

Apart from the old adage that "life is always somewhere else" and that energy bills, tax refund forms, and subway commutes make life boring everywhere, there is one factor - the lack of community support.

Arts and community are two of the most powerful tools for improving quality of life and combating mental illness. Research suggests that people who self-identify with an immigrant background, especially first-generation immigrants, are at higher risk for depression, PTSD, and anxiety (Nesterko, Y., Friedrich, M., Brähler, E. et al, 2019). While the community provides immigrants with a sense of belonging, community support is an alternative and more effective way to navigate the complex social system of another country (American Immigration Council, 2021). As an ex-pat in a big city like Berlin, it is difficult to navigate the art scene without community support.

There are many Asian communities in Germany, especially in Berlin. They focus on second-generation immigrants, so, unfortunately, they cannot provide much to help people like me. These communities talk about food, traditional dress, and racism against Asians. They organize music and art events to support artists from the Asian diaspora, form forums to discuss political issues in Germany, and initiate projects such as publications or radio stations. I have attended many of these events over the last 3 years. But I didn't feel connected to any of them because these topics did not connect with my life.

"But maybe you should try harder," my friend says, "be brave, make a change, connect with your own community and be a full-time artist."

The truth is: it is a privilege to be able to live in Europe without having to worry about a visa or residence permit. While I acknowledge the struggles and racism we all face (it's probably something that connects us, after all), it is a privilege to create freely without having to worry about being kicked out of the country. Do you want to ditch your four-year university degree in human resources and experience as a contemporary artist? Do you want to quit your full-time job as a marketing manager and become a freelancer? Do you want to dedicate your time to cultural exchange and start an NGO program? You can just do that!

It is certainly not a “snap of the fingers” kind of magic. It takes courage to change jobs and change your life. But my point is that it is a privilege to be able to have the option for making changes. There is a saying for people living in a foreign country: once you have a work visa, you have the freedom to choose who you marry; if you have a partner visa, you have the freedom to choose what you want to do. Some of the women I know choose to marry because of the visa, and they are heavily criticized because of their choice.

While the community is missing, there are smaller gatherings among the Chinese people I know. These gatherings almost always involve food and video/card games. Since we have similar backgrounds and are in a smaller group, we can talk and joke about anything from the current covid situation in China to social news in Germany. Although I really enjoy a party where everyone brings delicious food and has in-depth conversations (as opposed to a party where everyone gets drunk and makes awkward small talk with strangers), I can't help but wonder if this kind of "community activity" could scale up or have any impact. It almost feels like a support group, where people share their worries behind closed doors and then go out into the world with their heads down, pretending that nothing has happened.

The freedom to create
Having worked for some of the big names in the Berlin start-up scene, I truly understand the dynamic between immigrant workers who need a job to live in the country and local business investors attracted by cheap and exploitable labor. We work our asses off to live somewhere we feel relatively comfortable. We give up some of our freedom and wish that one day we will have the freedom to create. We suppress our creativity and our artistic side for now, just so that one day we can finally do what we love.

We are nothing more than divided individuals living in a foreign land, trying our best to survive. Perhaps the experience of living in a society full of restrictions and controls has made us crave security and become "selfish". Many first-generation Chinese immigrants are afraid to share their opinions or talk about their stories because they didn't know how many people out here are just like them. They fear being judged, criticized, or misunderstood. Many people like me, who have been unjustly fired from work and now have to worry about their residency permit, are too afraid to hire a lawyer or even talk about their situation. We feel excluded from societies and communities but cannot afford the time or energy to build one. We too have our dreams and want to create something meaningful, but I guess we will just have to stick to the routine for now.

References
Schengenvisa reports. (2021). 70,000 Blue Card Holders Worked in Germany in 2021, Federal Office of Statistics Reveals

American immigration council. (2022). Foreign-born STEM Workers in the United States.

Perlberg, S. (2020). Berlin’s black tech workers face discrimination.

Aikins, Bechert, Gyamerah, Wagner. (2020). On the way toward a more diverse cultural sector

Nesterko, Y., Friedrich, M., Brähler, E. et al. (2019). Mental health among immigrants in Germany – the impact of self-attribution and attribution by others as an immigrant

American immigration council. (2021). Community Support for Migrants Navigating the U.S. Immigration System