"You Tell Your Friend There Is a Job Here": Refugee Women's Social Networks, Language Resources, and Economic Integration

Background and purpose:

Human capital and social network have long been considered critical for refugees’ economic success, with gender introducing complexity to these experiences. Refugee women’s access to resources embedded in social networks may differ by the type of social networks. Different kinds of social networks may affect refugee women’s acquisition of human capital and access to economic opportunities. Using a three-dimensional framework, we examine the ways in which social networks and gender role ideology impact women’s development of human capital and, consequently, economic integration. This study addresses gaps in the literature by directly asking refugee women about the gendered nature of their employment experiences, social network, and human capital.

Methods: This is a grounded theory study using in-depth interviews conducted in person and through video conferencing. Sample: 15 refugee women ages 18 years+ living in a mid-sized northeastern U.S. city, who speak Arabic, Burmese, Kiswahili, or English; recruited by word of mouth, through a resettlement agency, and organizations serving refugee women. Data were transcribed and analyzed using iterative coding: Initial line-by-line coding by two researchers was then compared for inter-rater reliability. Codes were then analyzed and clustered into emerging themes.

Results: Participants describe complex relationships between gender role ideology, their development of human capital, social networks, and economic integration. Data also reveal the roles of language resources at individual and community levels: They facilitate refugee women’s human capital development and define their social networks; Access to language resources is gendered. Most women expressed a desire to learn English and work, but had limited opportunities to do so, noting lack of childcare and willingness from institutions to provide help: “[Resettlement staff] said I had to stay home, but I was hurt because I wanted to have some classes for me. Speak(ing) some English that will help me go shop or talk to people.” Women indicated strong connections to not only ethnic but also language communities: “I’m not trusting only my family, my ethnic group, I’m trusting also other people.” Women found access to jobs and support through newly established networks and already-employed community members fluent in English: “The same day when she was supposed to quit, she took me there to her job and then the same day they accepted me and she began training me the same day.” Seeking help is not limited to women’s own ethnic groups but also includes language community, as a Karen woman said, “I tell everybody. If I go to the store, when I saw the Burmese people and Karen people, I asked a job.”

Conclusions and implications: Refugee women experience complex systems of opportunity and oppression through limited English proficiency, gender role ideology, and restrictive policies. Through social networks within and between communities, they learn about jobs and resources to facilitate their economic integration. Policymakers should expand language resources and job training for women and not rely on false constructs of women’s capabilities and interests. Social worker can facilitate social networking opportunities among newcomer groups to promote economic and social integration.