Listening to Afghan Refugee Women

What is it about?

I spoke to Afghan refugee women about their experiences of living in the United States. Their stories not only revealed their individual experiences but also the social and political factors that forced migration and that continued to shape their lives. Their stories also included profound stories of their mothers resisting oppressive conditions that conveyed to these women that they too could enact change.

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Photo by Maria Teneva on Unsplash

Photo by Maria Teneva on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This article is important for practitioners and policymakers, normally seen as the experts, to pause and truly listen to refugees on how to best serve them. My findings showed that refugees do not only experience suffering but also growth and healing, and most importantly, they are able to heal themselves and their communities through connection and feeling a sense of purpose to their communities. This article is important for qualitative researchers and scholars as it demonstrates how researchers should adjust their methods and even their research question in light of what participants share.