Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

مرد ومدد (Mard va Madad), NGOs, and Other Challenges: A Qualitative Study of Female Afghan Refugees’ Path to Independence

Davari Zanjani, Shermineh
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou160502411649464

Abstract Details

2020, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Communication Studies (Communication).
Refugees, particularly female Afghan refugees, are among the most vulnerable populations. For decades, previous research on displaced and refugee populations had a “nongendered” approach toward studying refugees’ experiences and struggles: they either looked at refugees’ experiences as a group, or in cases where they had a focus, they mostly looked at male refugees' experiences and challenges throughout the pre-flight, flight, and resettlement process. This dissertation, however, examined the personal narratives, experiences, and challenges of female Afghan refugees throughout their resettlement process in the U.S. Specifically, taking an ethnographic qualitative method approach, this study examined (a) female Afghan refugees experiences of the everyday routines throughout the early transitional period of resettlement, and (b) the advocacy work of local NGOs with refugees as they navigate and manage the new everyday routines. To address the research questions, I volunteered, worked, and drew the sample from a midwestern local refugee-advocacy NGO. I conducted participant observation for more than 24 months and 16 in- depth 1- to 2 hour-long interviews, with three female Afghan refugees, and 13 NGO staff, liaisons, and volunteers. Using Tracy’s (2013) iterative paradigm data analysis yielded three emergent themes in regard to RQ1, (a) مرد و مدد (Mard va Madad), (b) illiteracy and English language (im-)proficiency, and (c) support of local NGOs. Following the same analysis approach, the relationship between liaisons and refugees was explained using parent-child relationship metaphor with one overarching theme of independence vs./and autonomy and two subthemes of fulfilling vs./and expectation and expectation vs/and reality. The result of this study provides a deeper understanding of refugee voices and experiences from their perspective and role of refugee-advocacy NGOs by pointing out the importance of considering refugees’ cultural background, social gender roles, and individual trauma while expanding the previous communication study research. Additionally, it will provide critical recommendations for local refugee-advocacy NGOs.  
Brittany Peterson , PhD (Advisor)
Stephanie Tikkanen, PhD (Advisor)
Devika Chawla, PhD (Committee Member)
Nukhet Sandal, PhD (Committee Member)
278 p.
Communication
Refugees; Female Afghan refugees; Female refugees new everyday routines in the host culture; Female refugees challenges; Refugees independence; local NGOs; Refugee-advocacy NGOs; Refugee-liaisons tensions; Labeling and stigma; Qualitative study

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Davari Zanjani, S. (2020). مرد ومدد (Mard va Madad), NGOs, and Other Challenges: A Qualitative Study of Female Afghan Refugees’ Path to Independence [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou160502411649464

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Davari Zanjani, Shermineh . مرد ومدد (Mard va Madad), NGOs, and Other Challenges: A Qualitative Study of Female Afghan Refugees’ Path to Independence. 2020. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou160502411649464.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Davari Zanjani, Shermineh . "مرد ومدد (Mard va Madad), NGOs, and Other Challenges: A Qualitative Study of Female Afghan Refugees’ Path to Independence." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou160502411649464

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou160502411649464
436
© 2020, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.