Refugees' resettlement in a Canadian mid-sized Prairie city: examining experiences of multiple forced migrations. Issue 3 (21st September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Racine, Louise; Lu, Yixi
• Is Part Of: International journal of human rights in healthcare. Volume 8:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 173
• Page End: 186
• Publication Date: 2015-09-21
• Subjects: Discrimination in medical care -- Periodicals; Minorities -- Medical care -- Periodicals; Social work with minorities -- Periodicals; Human rights -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1108/IJHRH-12-2014-0031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-4902

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Purpose</title> <p> – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the experiences of multiple forced migrations and resettlement among two refugee families in a mid-sized Canadian city. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Design/methodology/approach</title> <p> – Case studies are located within the contingencies of the participants' lives and the meanings they provide to the events. A postcolonial feminist perspective guided the data analysis to explore the micro-level of individual experiences that unfold within a raced, gendered, and classed reality. Open-ended interviews, participant observation, and field notes were used to collect participants' perspectives. Data were collected until saturation occurred. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Findings</title> <p> – An in-depth analysis of these two case studies revealed that lack of choice and lack of access to health and social services affect health through constant revival of traumatic past experiences prior to arrival to Canada. Three themes emerged from the data analysis: first, shared experiences of forced migrations; second, the past and present: construction of new identities; and third, resettlement challenges and opportunities. These themes overlap and intersect to shape the experiences of double forced migration. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Research limitations/implications</title> <p> – This research has limitations related to the sample size but provides data on a topic that deserves more attention in the field of immigrant and health studies. The authors argue that health and social professionals must resist "finalizing" refugees into disempowered identities that undermine human agency. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Originality/value</title> <p> – Research on resettlement experiences after forced migration is a burgeoning field in refugee studies. The originality lies in drawing on Bahktin to develop practical implications to guide health and social practice in this area marked by racialization and fundamentalism.</p> </sec> </abstract>