The Phenomena Of Acculturation In First-Generation Somali Refugee Women

<p>The decision to relocate and seek refuge from one country to another country is a decision that typically requires careful consideration (Hucklesby & Travis, 2002). The most common reasons refugees decide to flee their country are religious, national, social, racial, or political persecution (Rueckert, 2017). The purpose of this qualitative, narrative study was to give a voice to three first-generation adult Somali refugee women who have shared their acculturation and adaptation experiences upon arriving in the United States. The research question this study answered was how do first-generation Somali women describe their individual experiences in acculturating within the United States, specifically, the State of Maine? The analysis yielded five themes from the participants’ restoried narratives as it relates to their acculturation experiences. These themes included (1) cultural differences, (2) mental health, (3) trauma, (4) children and their well-being, and (5) social service programs. There was one major finding of this study pertaining to social service programs and how these programs may set refugees up for failure by keeping them in poverty. The study yielded three recommendations centered around providing a culturally sensitive platform for the immigrant populations voice to be heard as it relates to what is working and what requires improvement to assist with their acculturation.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Year dc:date.available

2021

Author dc:creator

• Avery, Bobbi L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Cynthia Kennedy
• Audrey Rabas
• Leigh Lardieri

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dune.une.edu/theses/382

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dune.une.edu:theses-1381