Assessing the impact of community structures in protecting forced migrant women in inner city Durban.
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Date
2021
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Abstract
Forced migration has become a global crisis, with half of those being women. Forced migrant women
are the most vulnerable in situations of displacement and resettling in host countries. Community
structures, however, can play important roles in protecting, integrating and providing women with
support in their host country. The purpose of this study is to assess the roles and impact of existing
community structures in protecting and integrating forced migrant women in the inner city of Durban,
South Africa. This study uses social capital and social networks as a theoretical framework to
understand the role of community structures in the protection and integration of forced migrant women.
The study used a qualitative approach, with in-depth interviews with 12 women who were forced
migrants. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling through a local non-governmental
organization working with refugees. Data were thematically analysed with respect to the study’s
objectives. Results showed community structures played two main roles, first, in offering short-term
assistance such as, short-term accommodation, food and medical attention to women. Second, in
providing longer - term assistance, in the form of spiritual support, connection to work opportunities
and reuniting families. Women’s bonding and bridging social capital were important for them in
accessing a wider range of opportunities via community structures and in establishing close-knit social
networks such as support groups and savings clubs. Community structures also hindered migrant
women’s integration and protection, specifically, around women’s experiences of sexual and gender
based violence and intimate partner violence, community structures reinforced traditional gender roles,
and they had limited resources to support women. Issues of mistrust also impeded the women from
accessing needed assistance from wider social networks in the city. As a result, some women remained
isolated and not adequately protected, hindering their integration and access to support systems. This
study suggests that strategies to improve forced migrant women’s integration and protection could
include creating safe spaces for women. In addition, working with and building the existing community
structures’ capacity can help develop better responses to the needs of women.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.