The Resettlement Experiences of Southern Sudanese Women Refugees in Minnesota

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Britain and other Western European nations have witnessed a high influx of African Refugees from war torn countries in Africa. Southern Sudanese left their country to escape the civil war between Southern Sudanese and the Northern dominated government. The civil war began intermittently in 1955 and continuously in 1983. The civil war ended in 2003 and has resulted in the death of 2 million and the displacement of four million Southern Sudanese (UNHCR, 2001). The lives of the Southern Sudanese refugees have not been easy after resettlement, especially the lives of women. Many Southern Sudanese women have experienced violence and rape during the civil war in Sudan and in refugee camps and have lived in fear of such violence (Tankink & Richters, 2007). The resettlement of Southern Sudanese women refugees into a society that is geographically and culturally different has been challenging. The dissertation indicated that adjustment to a new culture is a difficult process for many women refugees. (Sullivan & Deacon, 2009), (Martin, 2004). Barriers that hinder the adjustment process include racial and cultural discrimination against women refugees in the host society. Women refugees are likely to face racism and sexism in seeking employment or vocational training in their host country. There also personal barriers that hinder the adjustment process for refugee women. These barriers include trauma, lack of language skills and vocational skills, and cultural differences (Martin, 2004). In general, there is a little literature that focuses on the African refugee resettlement experience in the US (Boas, 2007), (khawaja, et al, 2008) and there are less literature on Southern Sudanese women refugees and their overall adjustment in their new environments. This study expands the understanding of the Southern Sudanese women refugees’ experiences and the barriers that prevent them from achieving their goals. The significance of the study lies in its search for a deeper understanding of the process through which Southern Sudanese women refugees attempt to balance their life demands as they are integrating to American norms and values. This area of knowledge, based on the experiences of Southern Sudanese women as they settled in Minnesota brings increasing awareness of the particular needs of Southern Sudanese refugee women. This will also assist service providers, educators, and policy makers in developing best practices when working with Southern Sudanese women refugees This is a qualitative study research used narrative analysis. For this qualitative research, a purposive sample of 7 Southern Sudanese refugee women was selected to participate in the study. Two methods of recruitment were used; first through nominative sample and second through the resettlement agencies and adult education centers in Minnesota. Strict measures to ensure that participants were protected from any undue harm or coercion as a result of interviews. The sample selection criteria were as follows: Be a Southern Sudanese women refugee 21years or older; has entered the United States with refugee status; is able to communicate in English or Arabic; has been living in the US for longer than one year, who is coming back to school or in school to get an education or some sort of credentials related to language skills or career preparation. The findings of this study supported and corresponded with the literature. The interviews of the seven Southern Sudanese women refugees revealed a range of reactions and experiences in navigating and resettling in their new home, Minnesota. The variation of the women’s ages and backgrounds, and the circumstances of their experiences, produced a variety of themes. The most prevalent themes identified were the cultural conflict and its impact on resettlement; the challenges the women experienced in adapting to their new homes; the impossibility of returning back home; the traumatic experiences pre and post resettlement; and coping and sources of resilience. The narrative methodology allowed the women refugees the voice to provide a context specific knowledge beyond the generalized explanation of the refugees experiences in the literature thus adding a rich picture of this marginalized group and their perspectives and unique experiences to the literature. This qualitative research provided some understanding and explanation about the experience of some Southern Sudanese women refugees but it cannot be generalized to all Southern Sudanese women refugee populations, or any other ethnic refugee group.