Indian Women in the Netherlands: Juggling Culture, Work, and Belonging

A new study looks at how highly skilled Indian women living in the Netherlands handle the daily push and pull of identity, work, and belonging. These women are often seen as winners of global talent programs, but the research shows their real-life struggles are rarely talked about.

The researchers used in-depth interviews with 12 Indian women, aged 24 to 49, who had been living in the Netherlands for two to eight years. They wanted to understand how these women build their sense of self while dealing with new cultural rules and workplace expectations.

One big finding was that many women still carry deep-rooted ideas about care and humility from their home culture. At the same time, they face pressure in Dutch workplaces to act confident and keep emotions in check. This creates a constant inner conflict.

To cope, the women developed smart ways to adapt. They picked and chose which parts of their old identity to keep, held on to cultural anchors, and changed how they presented themselves depending on the situation. But even with these strategies, they often felt only half they belonged.

The study introduces the idea of Emotional Simultaneity, meaning these women live with mixed feelings and cultural demands all at once. Their mental health is not just personal, it is shaped by bigger social and power structures. The findings suggest that support systems and policies need to be more aware of emotion and culture when helping migrant women thrive.