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Refugee life making: (Re)Centering the refugee narrative through feminist refugee epistemology
Author(s) -
Saelua Natasha,
Yi Varaxy,
Na Vanessa S.,
Museus Samuel D.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
new directions for higher education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1536-0741
pISSN - 0271-0560
DOI - 10.1002/he.20383
Subject(s) - refugee , narrative , sociology , gender studies , population , politics , general partnership , pedagogy , political science , philosophy , linguistics , demography , law
Utilizing feminist refugee epistemology (FRE), this article explores the ways in which refugee youth and their parents engage their histories and enact their politics and desires as they negotiate their resettlement, education, and the pursuit of life in Colorado. Specifically, this article seeks to (re)center the researcher gaze from refugees as sites of trauma or as objects of rescue toward the everyday, intimate moments of life‐making. This study was conducted in partnership with a local community‐based organization focused on serving the local refugee population. Ten refugee youth, ages 13–17, and their parents (one parent for each student; N = 20) participated in semi‐structured interviews ranging from 45 to 60 minutes. Findings reveal how refugee mothers make life and, in doing so, support their children's educational pursuits. We consider the practical implications of this study to inform the creation of culturally responsive educational environments to support greater opportunities for these growing populations.