The Lived Experience of Afghan Women Refugees in Three
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Kennesaw State University DigitalCommons@Kennesaw State University Doctorate of Nursing Science Dissertations Wellstar School of Nursing Spring 2-23-2018 The Lived Experience of Afghan Women Refugees in Three Metropolitan Areas of the Southeastern US: A Phenomenological Study Brenda Brown DNS, RN, CNE Kennesaw State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/dns_etd Part of the Public Health and Community Nursing Commons Recommended Citation Brown, Brenda DNS, RN, CNE, "The Lived Experience of Afghan Women Refugees in Three Metropolitan Areas of the Southeastern US: A Phenomenological Study" (2018). Doctorate of Nursing Science Dissertations. 6. https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/dns_etd/6 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Wellstar School of Nursing at DigitalCommons@Kennesaw State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctorate of Nursing Science Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Kennesaw State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Running head: AFGHAN WOMEN REFUGEES 1 The Lived Experience of Afghan Women Refugees in Three Metropolitan Areas of the Southeastern US: A Phenomenological Study by Brenda Brown, RN, BSN, MS, DNS(c), CNE Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements of Doctorate of Nursing Science Kennesaw State University WellStar College of Health and Human Services March 2018 Copyright by Brenda Jean Brown 2018 Running head: AFGHAN WOMEN REFUGEES 3 Acknowledgements First, to my husband, Keith, I thank you so very much for your unwavering support of my doctoral education. Thank you for returning to work full time so that I could focus on my studies. Thank you for being willing to forgo other plans so I had time to complete assignments. Thank you for the greatest sacrifice of all – being willing to travel to Afghanistan with me and allowing me to make the second trip alone – so I could fulfill one of my greatest dreams. You have pushed me, encouraged me, and challenged me as I endeavored to achieve my doctoral degree. Many times your support kept me from giving up. To my parents, Dave and Wanda Shadle, thank you for your continued support throughout all my educational pursuits from the beginning of the undergraduate nursing program at the University of North Georgia to my Master’s program at Regis University and now to my doctoral education at Kennesaw State University. You have always been interested in and rejoiced with me for each accomplishment. To my nursing colleagues at Brenau University - Elizabeth Conoley, Maureen Vidrine, Jean Moore, Judy Bradberry, and Keeta Wilborn - you have supported and encouraged me along the way. Keeta, the picture that hung in your office and that you passed on to me has helped me more than once to keep on and “Never, ever, ever, give up.” To my co-workers and fellow doctoral students at KSU – many many thanks. Without you the journey would have been too long and lonely. To the absolute best dissertation committee I could have had – Dr. Mary de Chesnay, Dr. Stacy Keltner, Dr. Nicole Moreno (former), and Dr. Camilla Payne. You have pushed me, encouraged me, listened to me, and finally, heard my dissertation defense. Thanks for your interest in my research and feedback for improvements. And, to the Kennesaw State University WellStar School of Nursing program and faculty, you have given me an outstanding doctoral education. I hope to honor KSU and the SON in my future endeavors. To my interpreters – Shamsi and Ellie - thanks for all your hard work. I could never have accomplished this without you. Finally, to the women refugees who participated and their families, you are some of the strongest people I know. Your journey from Afghanistan to the US has been an undertaking of heroic proportions. And to all refugees in the US – may you find the better life that you seek and be richly blessed with peace and safety. Running head: AFGHAN WOMEN REFUGEES 5 Abstract The global refugee crisis has reached epic proportions. Statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 2016) reported that in 2015 a record 65.3 million people worldwide, or 39,976 people per day, were displaced, either within their native countries or as asylees and refugees. Afghanistan, from 1980-2014, was the country with the largest number of outgoing refugees and it now ranks third in the world. At the opposite end of the continuum the United States remains the primary host country for refugees, asylees, and resettled refugees from all countries, including Afghanistan. The refugee experience is fraught with challenges from life in the native country to the decision to leave to the resettlement process in the US. The author has had a longstanding interest in Afghanistan and the Afghan refugees. Understanding the lived experience of the women refugees is important for nurses and other healthcare professionals who will eventually care for the women. This study used a phenomenological approach to make sense of and find meaning in this experience. The study also used the intersectionality feminist theory to explore ways in which the Afghan women refugees may be marginalized in the US. The women have demonstrated resilience and strength in coping with this traumatic life event and their stories deserve to be heard. Table of Contents I. Chapter 1: Introduction A. Introduction 9 B. Purpose 11 C. Research question and aims 13 D. Significance 13 E. Theoretical framework 15 F. Assumptions 26 G. Definition of terms 27 H. Limitations 28 I. Delimitations 29 J. Summary 31 II. Chapter 2: Literature Review A. Literature Review 34 B. Background information 36 C. Afghan Women in Afghanistan 39 D. Afghan refugee women in Iran and Pakistan 49 E. Afghan women refugees in Western countries 51 F. Afghan women refugees in the US 56 G. Summary 61 III. Chapter 3: Methodology A. Design 65 B. Sample, Consent, & IRB 71 C. Setting 86 D. Instrument & Data Collection 89 Running head: AFGHAN WOMEN REFUGEES 7 E. Rigor: Accuracy and Replicability 91 F. Data Analysis 95 G. Procedures 96 H. Research with Vulnerable Populations and Language Barriers 97 I. Summary 98 IV. Chapter 4: Analysis A. Description of Participants 101 B. Findings 103 1. Theme 1: Starting Over 104 2. Theme 2: The Hopes and Realities of Life in America 113 3. Theme 3: Holes in My Heart 117 4. Theme 4: Movies in My Mind 128 5. Theme 5: Strong and Resourceful Women 130 6. Theme 6: Coping – How Will I Live This Life? 135 7. Theme 7: Afghanistan - Past Sorrows and Future Fears 141 C. Findings Related to Intersectionality Feminist Theory 144 D. Summary 149 V. Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations A. Overview of the Study 151 B. Discussion 152 C. Meanings of the Lived Experience of the Afghan Refugee Women 154 D. Contribution to Nursing Knowledge 164 E. Implications 166 F. Future Research 167 G. Summary 168 H. Personal Narrative 168 VI. References 170 VII. Appendix A: Arrivals of Afghans to the US 189 VIII. Appendix B: Arrivals of Afghans to States 190 IX. Appendix C: Consent 191 X. Appendix D: Semi-structured Interview Questions 193 XI. Appendix E: Timeline 194 Running head: AFGHAN WOMEN REFUGEES 9 The Lived Experience of Afghan Women Refugees in Metropolitan Atlanta: A Phenomenological Study Chapter 1: Introduction The refugee crisis has become a global crisis and is not likely to be resolved soon, if ever. Statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 2016) reported that in 2015 a record 65.3 million people worldwide, or 39,976 people per day, were displaced, either within their native countries or as asylees and refugees. The breakdown of the 65.3 million was: asylees - 3.2 million, internally displaced persons (IDP) - 40.8 million, and refugees – 21.3 million. Afghanistan, from 1980-2014, was the country with the largest number of outgoing refugees and it now ranks third in the world. At the opposite end of the continuum the United States remains the primary host country for refugees, asylees, and resettled refugees from all countries, including Afghanistan. In fact, the number of asylee claims in the US rose from 36,800 in 2013 to 121,200 in 2014, a 44% increase. A report from the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) by Zong & Batalova (2015, October 8) stated that for fiscal year (FY) 2015, the United States resettled 69,933 refugees. As one solution to this massive refugee crisis, the Obama administration proposed increasing the number of refugees the US allows each year from 70,000 in FY 2015 to 85,000 in FY 2016 and 100,000 in FY 2017. Additionally, the number of Syrian refugees admitted would be at least 10,000 for FY 2016. The Soviet takeover in 1979 marked the beginning of the Afghan refugee exodus. The initial destinations for most refugees were the refugee camps in Pakistan and Iran, where some still reside. Other Afghan refugees have made their way to Western host countries, such as the US, and reside as asylees (See Appendix A). Within the US, Georgia is one of the top ten states for refugee resettlement (Zong & Batalova,, 2015) and one of the seven states with the most Afghan refugees and asylees (See Appendix B). Within the state of Georgia, metropolitan Atlanta, especially the city of Clarkston, is home to the largest population of Afghan refugees and asylees (Global Frontier Missions, 2016). In the past year, Governor Nathan Deal and several politicians have criticized the influx of refugees, stating that Georgia has taken its fair share and does not have the resources to continue allowing this number of refugees, from all countries, not just Afghanistan. Moreover, intense opposition toward Muslims among Georgia politicians led Governor Deal to issue an executive order to refuse entry into Georgia for any Syrian refugee.