Lost in Transition: The Changing Dynamics of Traditional Nuäär Gender Roles and the Migrant Experience Bichok Wan Kot College of Arts and Education Victoria University Melbourne, Australia Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2018 1 Doctor of Philosophy Declaration I, Bichok Wan Kot, declare that the PhD thesis entitled ‘Lost in Transition: The Changing Dynamics of Traditional Nuäär Gender Roles and the Migrant Experience’ is no more than 100,000 words in length including quotes and exclusive of tables, figures, appendices, bibliography, references and footnotes. This thesis contains no material that has been submitted previously, in whole or in part, for the award of any other academic degree or diploma. Except where otherwise indicated, this thesis is my own work. Signature Date: 5th June 2018. 2 Table of Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................... 7 List of Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... 8 Abstract ............................................................................................................................ 9 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 1 - Introduction ................................................................................................. 13 Background on the Nuäär Community ........................................................................ 16 Context of Migration and Resettlement in Australia .................................................... 18 Thesis Outline ............................................................................................................. 22 Chapter 2 -The Nuäär People: Historical Background and Change ............................. 30 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 30 Who are the Nuäär or Naath? ..................................................................................... 30 Original Geographical Location of the Nuäär .............................................................. 33 Cultural Identity ........................................................................................................... 34 Nuäär Tradition and Culture ........................................................................................ 38 Language ................................................................................................................. 38 Nuäär Customs ........................................................................................................ 39 The Nuäär Man ........................................................................................................... 41 The Nuäär Woman ...................................................................................................... 46 Nuäär Traditional Family Model .................................................................................. 48 Concept of Family in Nuäär ........................................................................................ 49 Nuäär Family Life ........................................................................................................ 50 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 51 Chapter 3 - Nuäär Displacement and Forced Migration: War, Flight and Migration to Australia ......................................................................................................................... 53 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 53 Part One: The International Refugee Problem ............................................................ 55 Conflict in Sudan: 1955 to the present .................................................................... 57 Impact of the Conflict ............................................................................................... 59 The Refugee Camp Experience .............................................................................. 62 Part Two: Humanitarian Migration to Australia ........................................................... 67 Nuäär Arrival in Australia ......................................................................................... 69 Getting Started in Australia ...................................................................................... 71 The Nuäär Community in Australia .......................................................................... 73 Part Three: Challenges of Resettlement ..................................................................... 76 3 English Language .................................................................................................... 76 Employment Problems ............................................................................................ 77 Accommodation ....................................................................................................... 79 Health and Legal Challenges .................................................................................. 80 Service Provision ..................................................................................................... 82 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 82 Chapter 4 - Locating the Thesis in Gender & Masculinity Studies ................................. 86 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 86 Gender and Gender Role Theory ............................................................................... 87 Theory of sex roles .................................................................................................. 88 The Social Construction of Gender ......................................................................... 89 The Performativity of Gender Roles ........................................................................ 91 Locating the Thesis within Gender and Masculinity Studies ....................................... 93 Summary ................................................................................................................... 100 Chapter 5 - Methodology and Data Collection Methods and Analysis ......................... 102 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 102 Part One: Research Design ...................................................................................... 103 Qualitative Approach ............................................................................................. 103 Theoretical framework: Constructivism .................................................................. 106 Methodology: Grounded Theory ............................................................................ 108 Part Two: Data Collection Process ........................................................................... 110 Selecting a Field Site ............................................................................................. 111 Recruitment of Participants ................................................................................... 113 Semi-structured Interviews .................................................................................... 116 Focus groups ......................................................................................................... 119 Participant Observations ....................................................................................... 121 Part Three: Data Analysis Process ........................................................................... 122 Initial Coding .......................................................................................................... 124 Focused Coding .................................................................................................... 125 Writing Memos ....................................................................................................... 126 Generalisation and Triangulation ........................................................................... 127 Part Four: Research Integrity and Ethical Issues ...................................................... 128 Integrity .................................................................................................................. 128 Ethical Issues ........................................................................................................ 130 4 Locating Myself as Insider ..................................................................................... 132 Summary ................................................................................................................... 134 Chapter 6 - The Impact of Transition on Nuäär Family Dynamics and Models in Australia ....................................................................................................................... 135 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 135 The Importance of Having Family ............................................................................