Parenting in exile: Refugee parents’ multivoiced narratives

Abstract

This article investigates how refugees' narratives of parental practices can be explored and conceptualised. Existing research approaches are critically discussed. Interviews are carried out with parents in 16 refugee families, resettled in Norway, and the narratives of their parental practices are analysed by applying the Bakhtinian concept of multivoicedness. The analytical results are presented by means of one couple's narrative. Several contradictory mother-and father-voices are identified. Multivoicedness proves to be a fruitful concept for understanding the complexities of refugees' parental practices and their meaning-making in a new host country. Our analyses may contribute to less discriminatory social work practices.

Migration as a Challenge to the Sustainability of Nordic Gender Equality Policies as Highlighted through the Lived Experiences of Eritrean Mothers Living in Denmark

“…These narratives of the Eritrean refugee experiences have provided us with an understanding of how Eritrean mothers creating meaning of their lived experiences of migration relating to their children. Our study indicates that a narrative approach serves as a useful construct for better understanding and the subsequent creation of a platform for collaboration [21].…”

“…A participatory approach, characteristic of Practice Research, was adopted for this study and whilst there are different definitions of what makes research participatory, the central aim regarding this approach was to position those being 'researched' as active partners, creating a reciprocal relationship between the researcher and those that were researched. This approach allowed for mutual exchange of information, giving a voice to individuals and communities [21]. The impact of gender equality policy and the welfare state on the family lives of refugees can only be understood from the lived experience of families.…”

“…Promoting social integration is a new key concern, making migration and integration a challenge to the Nordic welfare model [15,20]. Importantly, integration is considered a two-way process and can only be successfully pursued by migrants when the host society is open and inclusive in its orientation towards cultural diversity [21]. Often the focus is on how refugees can or should adapt in order to integrate well.…”

“…Bergeset & Ulvik [21] have argued that there are significant differences between male and female refugees in the integration process and this is why parenting and in particular motherhood is an important factor to consider when considering the experiences of refugee women who are attempting to integrate into Nordic countries such Denmark. Navigating a path forward in a new society includes multiple considerations.…”

Parenting in exile: Narratives of evolving parenting practices in transnational contact zones

“…In Bakhtinian terms, this amounts to awareness of the utterance’s addressivity (Bakhtin, 1986). (For a description of the analytical process, see Bergset & Ulvik, 2019. )…”