(En)Gendering Vulnerability: Immigrant Service Providers’ Perceptions of Needs, Policies, and Practices Related to Gender and Women Refugee Claimants in Atlantic Canada

Abstract


 
 
 As part of a multi-phased study exploring the experiences of refugee claimants in Atlantic Canada, this article focuses on the experiences and perceptions of immigrant service providers in relation to gender and women refugee claimants. Given the paucity of research on refugees in Atlantic Canada and on the particular perspectives of service providers, we have located this part of our research in the intersection of state policies and civil society practices, in particular service providers’ and NGO practices vis-à-vis refugees and refugee claimants. To contextualize our study we briefly trace global and national trends in migration and refugee issues, specifically increasing refugee deterrence policies that restrict claimants’ access to protection and settlement services. Findings highlight the recognition of gender-specific needs but also the lack of a gendered analysis of women refugee claimants, uneven accessibility to support services across the Atlantic region, challenges in navigating services, low cultural competence of institutional social and health service providers, and the rise of a punitive deterrence culture. 
 
 

Exploring community capacity: Karen refugee women’s mental health

“…Moreover, the politics of recognition examines cultural and social patterns, which reinforce oppressive structures, and exploits gender-defined roles. The findings of this research are consistent with Tastsoglou et al (2014) , who suggest, “Canadian immigration and refugee policies devalue women, create dependency and promote gendered power imbalances” (p. 69). Community capacity requires immigration policies to integrate the differential education, gender, and health literacy needs of refugees to provide equitable health care and build healthy public policy.…”

Personal and organizational predictors of service provision for refugees

“…There are few studies that examine service providers' work with immigrants and refugees. Tastsoglou, Abidi, Brigham, and Lange (2014) conducted a qualitative study on experiences and perception of immigrant service providers in relation to women refugee claimants in Atlantic Canada. They found that there is a lack of services and resources to support clients, thus providers have difficulties in navigating services.…”

“…And, yet, few studies have been conducted on the role of cultural competence in service providers for refugees or immigrant service providers and service outcomes. Tastsoglou, Abidi, Brigham, and Lange (2014) found the service providers who have a low level of cultural competence provided inappropriate services to refugee women.…”

“…The qualitative research method has been used by most researchers to understand the service providers' individual experiences when they provide services to refugees (Jewson et al, 2015;Johnson, Ziersch, & Burgess, 2008;Nalwadda et al, 2011;Onoka et al, 2012;Tastsoglou et al, 2014;Weine et al, 2001). In-depth and semi-structured interviews and focus groups have been shown to be helpful for gaining insight into the ground-level perceptions and experiences of service providers.…”

“…In designing the theoretical framework, the aforementioned studies helped to identify specific variables in each domain: a) personal factors including knowledge of clients (refugees; e,g., Copeland, 2006;Moe & Sparkman, 2015), familiarity with community resources (e.g., Jewson et al, 2015;Tastsoglou, Abidi, Bringham, & Lange, 2014), and cultural competence (e.g., Griswold, Zayas, & Kernan, 2007;Tastsoglou et al, 2014); b) organizational culture factors including proficiency, rigidity, and resistance (Aarons & Sawitzky, 2006;Glisson, 2007); and c) demographics of the service providers (i.e., age, biological sex, race/nationality, education, and job title). This study assumed that personal factors and organizational culture factors are related to service provision and referral for refugees.…”