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Women's Stories of Home: Meanings of Home for Ethnic Women Living In

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Women's Stories of Home: Meanings of Home for Ethnic Women Living In Women's Stories of Home: Meanings of Home for Ethnic Women Living in Established Migrant Communities Susan Margaret Thompson MTCP; BA(Hons); Dip Ed A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Sydney Australia ~ March 1996 ABSTRACT The subject of this thesis is the meaning of home for ethnic women living in Sydney. I argue that housing policy has paid little attention to the complex and significant role that home plays in our daily lives. Multicultural issues have also been missing from the agenda of planning theory and practice, which is unacceptable given the diverse nature of contemporary Australian society. My starting point is a broad conceptualisation and understanding of the notion of home. Both positive and negative imagery is found in the literature, which spans many disciplines and theoretical positions. Multiculturalism is also considered, focussing on its relationship to housing and urban planning policy. The ethnic woman's voice has, until now, been rarely heard in this discourse. From a feminist qualitative research perspective, I use phenomenology as my starting point for indepth interviewing with forty women from the Greek, Arabic and Vietnamese communities. The respondents live in established communities in and around the Local Government Area of Canterbury, located in Sydney's west. Detailed thematic analysis of the interview transcripts disclosed multi-dimensional meanings ofhome, with individual differences and commonalities across the three groups emerging. Interpretations of the data focussed on the latter, revealing that the physical house and garden are central to the meaning of home for these migrant women. The dwelling is a significant source of power, challenging the early feminist critiques that see it as negative and restrictive. Meanings of home are also closely linked to the experience of migration and the impact of loss. Not only can a microcosm of the lost culture be re-created in this residential form, the house is a powerful indicator of success, helping to atone for feelings of profound dispossession. The study demonstrates the appropriateness of qualitative methods for urban planning. These research techniques enable a fuller understanding of the complex and rich nature of people's attachment to place. They also allow unforeseen issues to emerge and value different ways of knowing. The thesis concludes with a consideration of the implications of both the substantive and ~ process components of the work for urban planning and housing policy. Acknowledgments After a tentative conception, a long and eventful pregnancy was initiated. It finally heralded an exhausting labour requiring a disciplined response, commitment and determination. This thesis before you is the result. Born out of hard work, sometimes joy, occasional inspiration and a belief in what I had to say ... ... a woman must be willing to burn hot, burn with passion, burn with words, with ideas, with desire for whatever it is that she truly loves (Estes, 1992: 97). The writing of a doctoral thesis is an incredibly long, arduous and at times, lonely task. Nevertheless, there are many opportunities for human interaction. It is these that have made my experience overwhelmingly rewarding, both personally and professionally. I owe an enormous amount to those who have encouraged, inspired and taught me along the way. My greatest debt is to the women who shared their stories, honestly and courageously. Without their generosity of spirit and time, their trust in me and my work, this project would be but an interesting idea. I will never forget their kindness in taking me into their homes, both present and past, and the willingness with which they opened their hearts to reveal intimate and sometimes painful memories. My supervisor, Dr James Conner, has also been central to my learning and growth during this period. He has maintained his encouragement throughout, positively critiquing my reflections and questioning ideas when they needed clarifying. His belief in me as I challenged orthodox methods and patriarchal theories never waivered. This sustained me during the blackest times and gave me the strength to continue. I can never thank him enough. Associate Professor Robert Zehner, my co-supervisor and colleague at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), has been a constant source of practical assistance. He has painstakingly pointed out grammatical mistakes and inconsistencies in arguments and presentation of the text. His ongoing support for my teaching and research role at the University, has publicly demonstrated his faith in me. I have found this humbling, as well as a great motivation for bringing the project to a completion. My current employer, the Faculty of the Built Environment, UNSW, generously awarded me a grant to assist with the project. This enabled the purchase of reliable equipment and transcriptions, as well as a small token payment for interviewees. A continuous flow of interest in, and enthusiasm for my work has come from friends and colleagues. This has fed my need to be in relationship with others at a time when the task frequently demanded solitude. There were also many generous individuals who gave freely of their guidance and expertise. My former colleagues at the NSW Department of Planning helped by pointing out pertinent references. Barbara provided valuable information, entrusting me with original documents. Maureen shared interesting ideas about the meaning of home, as did Sophea. Mary encouraged me to speak through feminism and did not deny me my true feelings. Peter offered insightful comments and advice as well as ongoing encouragement. Glenn went beyond the bounds of friendship in taking on the task of my special support person during the writing and synthesis stage. His loyalty, professional commitment and understanding of my need to report achievements, no matter how small, was inspiring. Danny was a willing listening post, always reJ:p.inding me to go back to the "so what?" question. Rob's cryptic notes sent me off to the library with a purpose and were instrumental in keeping me abreast of the most recent literature. Helen, Alison and Elizabeth were encouraging and supportive of the struggle. Thanks especially to Helen for her insightfulness at some very critical moments. Joan and Kathy kept focussing on the finish. Chris helped me to be more critical of my use and arrangement of words. Many of my students have displayed a keen interest in the research, challenging me to make concepts and issues clearer. Kate and Larissa were especially wonderful, their hard work invaluable. So too Edwina's thorough checking. Jackie did a lion's share of the typing, formatted the document and gave freely of her love and friendship. Trevor, Bob and Margaret ably assisted with graphics. The nurses' research group provided a haven where it was safe to be honest and declare ignorance. Similarly, co-supervision with Penny and Susan was a nurturing and supportive experience. In the Writer's Group, Margaret, Jane and I shared the pain and joy of getting ideas into shape. Special thanks to Margaret for pioneering the trail and contributing her thoughts over coffee after swims at the uni pool. Peter's timely reminder to drop my preciousness helped to shift me at a point when I was overwhelmed with the enormity of it all. So too did Tom's suggestion about going back to my initial inspiration, just as the sculptor returns to the markette. Cathy helped me to battle the detractors who at times undermined my confidence and belief in alternative ways of knowing and understanding the world. Adrian and Jocalyn encouraged me to focus on the things that were important. Amanda administered to tired and knotted muscles and Michele listened to my story, encouraging me to claim my own power through the process. Felicity and Melissa gave so much, patiently and painstakingly proof-reading the final manuscript. Thanks as always, for Mutti's support throughout. Trevor has been the long suffering spouse of a PhD candidate, weathering the highs and lows on a day-to-day basis. There have been times when my obsession with the thesis got in the way of our relationship. Even when this became difficult, Trevor continued to cook delicious spicy food and understood my need for space, both physically and emotionally. My other household companions, Kabya Min and Rasta, have purred and licked, head-butted and kept me company by curling up amongst the papers, books and pens that constantly littered my desk. Finally, I would like to thank the home makers in my life. Ruth and Jim, my parents who gave me the first home that I knew and loved; Chris for shared flat living which heralded the beginning of my independence; and Trevor who agreed to be a special part of my life's journey. You have all developed my understanding and personal meaning of the richness of home. Dedication This thesis is dedicated to the development of different ways of knowing and understanding in urban planning. Women's Stories of Home: Meanings of Home for Ethnic Women Living in Established Migrant Communities Volume One ~ TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME ONE PART ONE: SETTING THE FRAMEWORK Introduction Background 2 Positioning the Personal: Where am I in this Research? . 5 Research Framevvork 7 Thesis Style and Approach 9 Focussing the Inquiry: The Research Questions 15 Reasons for Undertaking the Study 16 The Structure of the Thesis 17 Thesis Diagram 20 Chapter One The Meaning of Home Literature Informing the Research: Part
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