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Remaking family life: strategies for re-establishing continuity among Congolese refugees during the family reunification process

Author

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  • Rousseau, C.Cécile
  • Rufagari, Marie-Claire
  • Bagilishya, Déogratias
  • Measham, Toby

Abstract

The restrictive immigration and refugee policies of many Western countries force most refugee families to remain separated for long periods. Although there is much discussion among professionals in the community and the clinical milieu about the problems families encounter after reunification, the strategies employed by refugees to restore family life have not been paid much attention. This longitudinal study documents the pre- and post-reunification experiences of 12 refugee families from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Montreal. Our results suggest that family separation can be understood as an ambiguous loss, in that the temporary absence of other family members cannot be fully acknowledged because of the perpetual uncertainty and permanent risk to them. Memory work, in the form of shared family memories, attenuates the pain of the absence. Once reunited, family members must re-establish continuity in spite of the many denied rifts between them. The capacity to recall a personal, familial or collective history of previous separation and loss appears to be protective, as if the memory of life's discontinuities provides an opportunity to recreate a partial sense of continuity out of repeating experiences of chaos.

Suggested Citation

  • Rousseau, C.Cécile & Rufagari, Marie-Claire & Bagilishya, Déogratias & Measham, Toby, 2004. "Remaking family life: strategies for re-establishing continuity among Congolese refugees during the family reunification process," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(5), pages 1095-1108, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:59:y:2004:i:5:p:1095-1108
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Johanna Hiitola, 2019. "Locating Forced Migrants’ Resources: Residency Status and the Process of Family Reunification in Finland," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 190-191.
    2. Baik, Jeongwon & Yoon, Young Ji & Gibson, Priscilla & Lo, Nancy & Nam, Hee Eun & Im, Yu Jin & Lee, Hee Yun, 2021. "Mothering and mothered during defection and resettlement: Experiences of North Korean refugee women and their children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    3. Anna Renner & David Jäckle & Michaela Nagl & Anna Plexnies & Susanne Röhr & Margrit Löbner & Thomas Grochtdreis & Judith Dams & Hans-Helmut König & Steffi Riedel-Heller & Anette Kersting, 2021. "Traumatized Syrian Refugees with Ambiguous Loss: Predictors of Mental Distress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    4. Batniji, Rajaie & Van Ommeren, Mark & Saraceno, Benedetto, 2006. "Mental and social health in disasters: Relating qualitative social science research and the Sphere standard," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(8), pages 1853-1864, April.
    5. Correa-Velez, Ignacio & Gifford, Sandra M. & Barnett, Adrian G., 2010. "Longing to belong: Social inclusion and wellbeing among youth with refugee backgrounds in the first three years in Melbourne, Australia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(8), pages 1399-1408, October.
    6. Chelsey Kirkland & Na’Tasha Evans & Kamesha Spates & Cedric Mubikayi Kabasele, 2022. "Perceptions of Resettled Refugee Congolese Women: Maintaining Cultural Traditions during Resettlement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Lewig, Kerry & Arney, Fiona & Salveron, Mary, 2010. "Challenges to parenting in a new culture: Implications for child and family welfare," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 324-332, August.

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