Barriers to education and employment among Arabic speaking refugee and immigrant women

Abstract

Purpose During the refugee resettlement process, women are often subject to discriminatory policies, which may put them at risk of a difficult transition. This study aims to extend and contextualize previous findings documenting the barriers Arabic-speaking refugee and immigrant women face with regards to gaining education and employment. Design/methodology/approach Through telephone-based surveys, the authors examined the social situations, barriers and assets to gaining education and employment among Arabic speaking refugee and immigrant women (N = 50) in North Carolina. Findings Findings include barriers to education and employment such as the need for childcare, English proficiency and lack of transportation. Assets include connections to the community and special skills such as cooking and sewing. Research limitations/implications This study has limitations such as a lack of representation among asylees, reliance on self-report and small sample size. Implications: this study’s findings have implications for community and medical providers’ efforts to assist refugees and immigrant’s women in education and employment and to close the gap in the social determinants of health as well as for research in this area. Minimizing the barriers that prevent them from learning English or attaining employment will require coordinated efforts across the local community, county and even the state. Practical implications The findings from this study inform research that may be relevant to other communities seeking an understanding of the social challenges faced by Arabic-speaking refugees and immigrant women, Muslim and Christian. Originality/value This study adds important information about the health and social lives of an understudied population. The authors’ discuss the implications of these findings for community members and health practitioners to better assist this population in a successful resettlement process.

Caught in crises: Syrian refugees in Türkiye’s labor market

“…Gender roles and household responsibilities, particularly childcare, contribute to the informality and unemployment of Syrian women. Namak et al. (2022) found that childcare responsibilities hinder Arabic-speaking refugee women from actively pursuing employment opportunities.…”

“…Gender roles and household responsibilities, particularly childcare, contribute to the informality and unemployment of Syrian women. Namak et al (2022) found that childcare responsibilities hinder Arabic-speaking refugee women from actively pursuing employment opportunities. Demirci and Kırdar (2023) noted that, on average, Syrian refugee women in Tu ¨rkiye have 1.69 household members under 7 years, compared to 0.494 for native women.…”