Thesis Format
Monograph
Degree
Master of Arts
Program
Psychology
Supervisor
Dr. Jason Brown
Abstract
This study was conducted to identify the barriers and protective factors for Rohingya men settling in a mid-sized Southwestern Ontario city. Men who have resettled in this city in the last couple of years as Rohingya refugees originally from Myanmar, were interviewed with support from a local community center to shed light on their resettlement experiences. Analysis of the interview data was conducted using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged, including: employment and financial stability; education and language skills; settlement services and government support; safety and equality; freedom and rights; comparison to previous life circumstances; community and sense of belonging and gratitude and appreciation. Results indicated that at a broad oversight level, government policies are in place to support refugees in resettling. At levels closer to the individual, in enacting these policies, men face several barriers to resettlement.
Summary for Lay Audience
The Rohingya have faced oppression, violence and loss of citizenship in their home country of Myanmar. As a result over 1 million Rohingya have been displaced from their homeland and are living in statelessness, as refugees, or resettling into other countries. The Canadian government provides support to refugees who are resettling in the country, including financial assistance, accommodation, clothing, food, help in finding employment and becoming self-supporting. This study looked at how these policies and support translate to Rohingya men’s real-life experience of feeling resettled in Canada.
Interviews were conducted with eight Rohingya men in a local community center to understand their settlement experiences. Themes that emerged from the data include employment and financial stability; education and language skills; settlement services and government support; safety and equality; freedom and rights; comparison to previous life circumstances; community and sense of belonging and gratitude and appreciation.
The Rohingya expressed immense gratitude for the support the government has provided them, including financial assistance, educational opportunities, settlement services and the opportunity to become an official citizen of this country. They expressed how Canada feels safe, and has provided them with equality, freedom and rights that they had been denied in their home country, and elsewhere as stateless individuals. Results indicate there have been obstacles in settling into the community and suggest that the policies set in place by the government are not translating at the individual level to aid these men in resettling. Challenges getting employment and financial stability, obstacles in learning the English language and accessing education and housing issues have left the community struggling to resettle.
Recommended Citation
Hamilton, Amelia, "Settlement Experience of Rohingya Men" (2025). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 10780.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/10780
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