Blossoming Through Creativity: Unveiling Sense of Belonging Among Ukrainian and Syrian Refugee Women in Ontario

Areej Al-Hamad (), Kateryna Metersky (), Henry Parada (), Yasin Yasin (), Molly Hingorani () and Caitlin Gare ()
Additional contact information
Areej Al-Hamad: Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex
Kateryna Metersky: Toronto Metropolitan University
Henry Parada: Toronto Metropolitan University
Yasin Yasin: University of Doha for Science and Technology
Molly Hingorani: Toronto Metropolitan University
Caitlin Gare: Toronto Metropolitan University

Journal of International Migration and Integration, 2024, vol. 25, issue 2, No 18, 887-910

Abstract: Abstract The concept of “belonging” has gained significant attention in policy debates concerning identity, migration, integration, and social cohesion, as it is closely tied to refugee wellbeing and the ability to feel comfortable and at ease in a specific location. This study investigates how Ukrainian and Syrian refugee women in Canada perceive their process of developing a sense of belonging by considering their everyday living practices. The research employs a qualitative approach with an intersectional lens, relying on in-depth interviews conducted with nine Syrian and six Ukrainian refugee women. The notion of belonging is explored from both an individual and collective perspective. Three themes emerged: (1) surviving and thriving; (2) negotiating belonging and identity in a cross-cultural context; and (3) blooming with possibilities in a new home. The study suggests that the transformational impact of migration and displacement directly influences refugee women’s resilience, the development of a sense of belonging, and their everyday practices. Ultimately, the attainment of a comprehensive sense of belonging is multifaceted. It is contingent upon structural factors like stable income, financial security, and secure living conditions, but women’s agency in developing resources, fostering connection, creating beauty, among other factors, is crucially important to belonging.

Keywords: Refugee women; Sense of belonging; Intersectionality; Syria; Ukraine; Qualitative research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12134-024-01120-5 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:joimai:v:25:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s12134-024-01120-5

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.springer ... tudies/journal/12134

DOI: 10.1007/s12134-024-01120-5

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of International Migration and Integration is currently edited by Lori Wilkinson

More articles in Journal of International Migration and Integration from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().