Ngos, and Other Challenges: a Qualitative Study of Female) مرد ومدد
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Mard va Madad), NGOs, and Other Challenges: A Qualitative Study of Female) مرد ومدد Afghan Refugees’ Path to Independence A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Scripps College of Communication of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Shermineh Davari Zanjani December 2020 ©2020 Shermineh Davari Zanjani. All Rights Reserved. This dissertation titled Mard va Madad), NGOs, and Other Challenges: A Qualitative Study of Female) مرد ومدد Afghan Refugees’ Path to Independence by SHERMINEH DAVARI ZANJANI has been approved for the School of Communication Studies and the Scripps College of Communication by Brittany Peterson Associate Professor of School of Communication Studies Stephanie Tikkanen Assistant Professor of School of Communication Studies Scott Titsworth Dean, Scripps College of Communication ii Abstract DAVARI ZANJANI, SHERMINEH, Ph.D., December 2020, Communication Studies Mard va Madad), NGOs, and Other Challenges: A Qualitative Study of Female) مرد ومدد Afghan Refugees’ Path to Independence Directors of Dissertation: Brittany Peterson, Stephanie Tikkanen 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) مرد (iterative paradigm data analysis yielded three emergent themes in regard to RQ1, (a iii (Mard va Madad), (b) illiteracy and English language (im-)proficiency, and (c) و مدد 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/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. iv Dedication To my parents, Jalal and Shahnaz, and my sister Shaghayegh, thank you for teaching me, loving me, encouraging me, and supporting me to pursue my dream and move thousands of miles away from home. I am one lucky daughter and sister, I love you. To my husband Hassan, Thank you for being with me every step of the way all these years, showing me nothing but patience, acceptance, encouragement, and unconditional love. I love you azizam. v Acknowledgments The completion of this dissertation could not have been possible without the help, participation, and support of many groups and individuals. First and foremost, I would like to extend my most heartfelt gratitude to the three female refugees, Fereshteh, Nasim, and Zinat, for welcoming me into your homes, allowing me to listen to your stories, and to share your experiences. This dissertation was completed because of and for you. I would also like to express my appreciation to AFR and CRR, the directors, and each of the staff, liaisons, and translators whom I had the pleasure of meeting, working with, and interviewing. I cannot begin to express my thanks to my dissertation advisors, Dr. Brittany Peterson and Dr. Stephanie Tikkanen, for your invaluable friendship, unwavering guidance, encouragement, and careful reading of each draft of this dissertation. Thank you for all you have done for and with me. I am incredibly grateful to my committee members, Dr. Devika Chawla, for teaching me about the importance of representing marginalized voices, and Dr. Nukhet Sandal, for providing valuable and detailed feedback. Thank you both for your patience and time. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my cohort, fellow graduate students, dearest friends, Dr. Marion Mendy, and Elizabeth Jenkins for supporting, praying, laughing, crying, and holding my hands as we all went through this graduate program together. vi Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................... iii Dedication .......................................................................................................................v Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................... vi List of Figures .................................................................................................................x Chapter 1: Introduction and Rationale ..............................................................................1 Overview ...................................................................................................................1 The Premise ...............................................................................................................3 The Case for a Communicative Exploration of Refugee Stories .................................4 Understanding the Refugee Experience ......................................................................5 Chapter 2: Historical Context......................................................................................... 14 Chapter Overview .................................................................................................... 14 Definition of Terms ................................................................................................. 14 Historical Account of Refugees Experiences in the U.S. .......................................... 14 Historical Media Portrayals of Refugees in the U.S. ................................................. 22 The Role of Religion in U.S. Treatment of Refugees ................................................ 27 Advocacy Groups .................................................................................................... 28 Chapter Summary .................................................................................................... 30 Chapter 3: Literature Review ......................................................................................... 32 Chapter Overview .................................................................................................... 32 Refugees .................................................................................................................. 32 Study of Everyday Routines ..................................................................................... 36 Labeling Theory and Stigma .................................................................................... 39 Female Refugees and Labels .................................................................................... 44 Afghanistan’s Refugees...................................................................................... 45 Everyday life of Afghan Female Refugees ......................................................... 47 Non-Governmental Organizations ............................................................................ 50 Non-Governmental Organizations, Defined ........................................................ 51 Refugee-Advocacy Non-Governmental Organization Activities ............................... 53 NGOs and Social Support .................................................................................. 56 Challenges of NGO-Refugee Relationship ......................................................... 58 vii NGOs’ Use of Social Media ............................................................................... 60 Chapter Summary .................................................................................................... 66 Chapter 4: Methodology ................................................................................................ 68 Chapter Overview .................................................................................................... 68 Suitability of an Ethnographic Qualitative Study ...................................................... 68 Organization Sites .................................................................................................... 71 Data Collection ........................................................................................................ 72 Observation .......................................................................................................