Degree
Master of Arts
Program
Education
Supervisor
Brown, Jason D.
Abstract
Syrians account for a large proportion of recent refugee migrants to Canada. Settlement workers are the main point of contact for refugees; they remain with these individuals from the day of arrival until they have successfully settled. They are not only providers of information and assistance to meet basic needs but carry the responsibility of ensuring cultural integration. For this, it is crucial to understand the intersectional identities of the incoming migrant; coupled with traumatic experiences of fleeing from war, carrying cultured gender roles, and dealing with the anxiety and stress of relocation. The current study describes the settlement experiences of female Syrian refugees as perceived by settlement workers. A qualitative methodology was used to collect and analyze ten participants’ responses. Five themes emerged from the data: premigration experiences: ethnic identity and the Syrian conflict, settlement needs and challenges, settlement services support, personal strength and resilience, and acculturation experiences. These themes reflect the key contributions of settlement experiences on the bicultural identity formation process.
Recommended Citation
Bhayee, Sheffy, "Perceptions of Settlement Workers on the Needs and Challenges of Female Syrian Refugees" (2019). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 6104.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/6104