At The Intersection Of Gender And Discrimination: Experiences Of Congolese Refugee Women With Social And Cultural Integration In The United States

Refugee resettlement services in the United States usually prioritize education, employment, and language skills. However, a more holistic approach to supporting refugees beyond the initial resettlement period is needed. Specifically, more attention should be focused on the social and cultural discrimination, particularly racism experienced by refugees who are Black. This is even more urgent for women who experience additional intersectionality of race, gender, and refugee status. We conducted longitudinal photovoice research with Congolese women refugees in the United States in 2016 after they had been resettled for approximately two years and then again three years later in 2019. Photovoice data was supplemented with semi-structured interviews in 2016 and interviewer-administered questionnaires in 2019. The paper shares three major themes highlighting social and cultural challenges-including raising kids in America and the related fear of the police; increasing experiences of discrimination; and the importance of social connection. Our findings indicate the need for more comprehensive and culturally tailored support from social services beyond the initial resettlement period.