IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i24p16714-d1001638.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Perceptions of Resettled Refugee Congolese Women: Maintaining Cultural Traditions during Resettlement

Author

Listed:
  • Chelsey Kirkland

    (Center for Public Health Systems, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
    College of Public Health, Kent State University, 800 Hilltop Dr., Kent, OH 44242, USA)

  • Na’Tasha Evans

    (School of Health Sciences, College of Education, Health, and Human Services, Kent State University, 1225 Theatre Dr., Kent, OH 44242, USA)

  • Kamesha Spates

    (Department of Sociology and Criminology, Kent State University, 700 Hilltop Dr., Kent, OH 44242, USA
    Department of Africana Studies, University of Pittsburgh, 230 S. Bouquet St., Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA)

  • Cedric Mubikayi Kabasele

    (College of Public Health, Kent State University, 800 Hilltop Dr., Kent, OH 44242, USA)

Abstract

Conflict-displaced refugees have increased significantly globally. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the leading country with refugees in the United States, where many resettle in Ohio. Women refugees are highly vulnerable, yet little literature has focused on them. Furthermore, maintaining cultural traditions can provide comfort during the tumultuous resettlement process. Therefore, this study used mixed methods to understand the perceptions of Congolese refugee women on maintaining cultural traditions during resettlement in Ohio. Translator-assisted, orally administered demographic survey and face-to-face interviews were conducted among resettled Congolese refugee women ( n = 20) 18 and older, who arrived in the United States from 2011 to 2018, and were currently receiving Ohio resettlement agency assistance. Researchers applied descriptive coding and thematic analysis to identify themes and subthemes. Three themes were identified among the resettled Congolese refugee women regarding maintaining cultural traditions in the United States. The three themes comprised (1) clothing and dressing, (2) food, and (3) parenting style. Our work examined resettled refugee Congolese women’s perceptions of maintaining their culture after resettling in Ohio. These study findings could assist community engagers with insights and practical recommendations on supportive services for resettled Congolese women and a deeper understanding of complex acculturative situations facing them during resettlement.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16714-:d:1001638
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/24/16714/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/24/16714/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sarah Elizabeth Neville & Kira DiClemente-Bosco & Lila K. Chamlagai & Mary Bunn & Jordan Freeman & Jenna M. Berent & Bhuwan Gautam & Abdirahman Abdi & Theresa S. Betancourt, 2022. "Investigating Outcomes of a Family Strengthening Intervention for Resettled Somali Bantu and Bhutanese Refugees: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-20, September.
    2. Joyce, Lisa & Liamputtong, Pranee, 2017. "Acculturation stress and social support for young refugees in regional areas," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 18-26.
    3. Jyotika Saksena & Shannon L. McMorrow, 2020. "Through their Eyes: A Photovoice and Interview Exploration of Integration Experiences of Congolese Refugee Women in Indianapolis," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 529-549, June.
    4. 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.
    5. Chansophal Mak & Elizabeth Wieling, 2022. "A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Family Interventions for Trauma-Affected Refugees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Coleman-Jensen, Alisha & Rabbitt, Matthew P. & Gregory, Christian A. & Singh, Anita, 2019. "Household Food Security in the United States in 2018," Economic Research Report 301167, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jong Eun Park & So Young Kim & Se Hee Kim & Eun Ju Jeoung & Jong Hyock Park, 2020. "Household Food Insecurity: Comparison between Families with and without Members with Disabilities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Denney, Justin T. & Brewer, Mackenzie & Kimbro, Rachel Tolbert, 2020. "Food insecurity in households with young children: A test of contextual congruence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    3. 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.
    4. Di Fang & Michael R. Thomsen & Rodolfo M. Nayga & Wei Yang, 2022. "Food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from a survey of low-income Americans," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(1), pages 165-183, February.
    5. Kurtz, Michael D. & Conway, Karen Smith & Mohr, Robert D., 2020. "Weekend feeding (“BackPack”) programs and student outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    6. Amier Haidar & Christine Markham & Allison Marshall & Ru-Jye Chuang & Meredith Spence & Jennifer Boone & Mike Pomeroy & Rich Dachman & Jaimie N. Davis & Shreela V. Sharma, 2021. "Innovative Partnerships to Address Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Brighter Bites Produce Voucher Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-10, August.
    7. Zhongqi Fan & Amy M. Yang & Marcus Lehr & Ana B. Ronan & Ryan B. Simpson & Kimberly H. Nguyen & Elena N. Naumova & Naglaa H. El-Abbadi, 2024. "Food Insecurity across Age Groups in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-19, August.
    8. Yue Qin & Douglas A. Sneddon & Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth & Dave Topp & Rena A. Sterrett & Jake R. Newton & Heather A. Eicher-Miller, 2023. "Grit but Not Help-Seeking Was Associated with Food Insecurity among Low Income, At-Risk Rural Veterans," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.
    9. Kevin M. Fitzpatrick & Don E. Willis, 2021. "Homeless and hungry: food insecurity in the land of plenty," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(1), pages 3-12, February.
    10. Trey Malone & K. Aleks Schaefer & Felicia Wu, 2021. "The Razor's Edge of “Essential” Labor in Food and Agriculture," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(1), pages 368-381, March.
    11. Lorraine R. Reitzel & Surya Chinamuthevi & Sajeevika S. Daundasekara & Daphne C. Hernandez & Tzu-An Chen & Yashwant Harkara & Ezemenari M. Obasi & Darla E. Kendzor & Michael S. Businelle, 2020. "Association of Problematic Alcohol Use and Food Insecurity among Homeless Men and Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-10, May.
    12. Drieda Zaҫe & Maria Luisa Di Pietro & Laura Reali & Chiara de Waure & Walter Ricciardi, 2021. "Prevalence, socio-economic predictors and health correlates of food insecurity among Italian children- findings from a cross-sectional study," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(1), pages 13-24, February.
    13. repec:ags:aaea22:335676 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Kevin M. Fitzpatrick & Don E. Willis & Matthew L. Spialek & Emily English, 2020. "Food Insecurity in the Post-Hurricane Harvey Setting: Risks and Resources in the Midst of Uncertainty," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-16, November.
    15. Coleman-Jensen, Alisha & Rabbitt, Matthew P & Gregory, Christian A & Singh, Anita, 2020. "Household Food Security in the United States in 2019," Economic Research Report 327207, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    16. Emily Miller & Tahereh Ziaian & Helena de Anstiss & Melanie Baak, 2022. "Ecologies of Resilience for Australian High School Students from Refugee Backgrounds: Quantitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-17, January.
    17. repec:ags:aaea22:335700 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Cäzilia Loibl & Wändi Bruine de Bruin & Barbara Summers & Simon McNair & Pieter Verhallen, 2022. "Which financial stressors are linked to food insecurity among older adults in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands? An exploratory study," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(2), pages 533-556, April.
    19. Maryruth Belsey-Priebe & Deborah Lyons & Jonathan J. Buonocore, 2021. "COVID-19′s Impact on American Women’s Food Insecurity Foreshadows Vulnerabilities to Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-14, June.
    20. Adam M. Lippert & Barrett A. Lee, 2021. "Adult and Child Food Insecurity Among Homeless and Precariously-Housed Families at the Close of the Twentieth Century," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 40(2), pages 231-253, April.
    21. Agnieszka Poczta-Wajda & Agnieszka Sapa & Sebastian Stępień & Michał Borychowski, 2020. "Food Insecurity among Small-Scale Farmers in Poland," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-24, July.
    22. Helms, Veronica E & Coleman-Jensen, Alisha & Gray, Regina & Brucker, Debra L, 2020. "Household Food Insecurity and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Housing Assistance," Economic Research Report 327205, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16714-:d:1001638. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.