Speaker
Description
Muslim women refugees, particularly those from conflict-affected regions such as Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia, face unique and intersecting barriers related to gender, religion, ethnicity, and refugee status. These challenges significantly impact their spatial integration in host cities, shaping their perceptions of belonging and access to resources within urban environments. The visibility of religious attire, such as hijabs, often subjects these women to surveillance, discrimination, and harassment, limiting their mobility and access to essential services, and further hindering their ability to engage with the host society(Husain, 2019; Casey, 2018; Galonnier, 2015).
While the formal refugee status under international law defines a refugee as someone who has fled their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution, this research takes a broader, more inclusive approach, focusing on women with refugee-like experiences. These women may not always meet the strict legal definition of a refugee, yet their lived experiences of displacement, trauma, and exclusion are similar to those of formally recognized refugees. As highlighted in recent scholarship, the rigid legal framework often overlooks individuals whose circumstances do not fit neatly within the refugee category but who still require protection and support (Parekh, 2020). Many Muslim women, for instance, arrive in host countries on spouse or dependent visas, yet their experiences of forced migration mirror those of refugees. They face many of the same challenges—economic hardship, social isolation, and limited access to services—despite lacking formal refugee status.
This study, centered on Bristol, UK, examines how socio-spatial elements of the built environment—such as housing, transportation, public spaces, and access to services—impact the integration experiences of Muslim women refugees and those with refugee-like experiences. By prioritizing the lived experiences of these women over formal definitions of refugee status, the research amplifies their voices through qualitative methods, including feminist grounded theory, focus groups, and photovoice. Therefore, the research offers participants a powerful means to document and express their daily lives, shedding light on experiences of exclusion, resilience, and the complexities of navigating urban spaces as marginalized individuals (McClean et al., 2019; Harper, 2015; Bignante, 2010).
Through thematic analysis, the study will identify key social and spatial barriers these women face, while also uncovering opportunities for integration and empowerment. It will explore how intersecting identities—such as religion, gender, ethnicity, and refugee status—shape these women’s experiences of space, belonging, and mobility within the urban environment (Muhanna-Matar, 2022; Yuval-Davis, 2006; Ruddick, 1996; Crenshaw, 1991). Furthermore, the research will investigate how these women navigate systemic barriers to social inclusion, negotiate their identities within a host society, and face challenges in accessing vital services.
By identifying the socio-spatial challenges and opportunities for inclusion, the study will provide practical recommendations for urban planning and policy adjustments to better address the needs of Muslim women refugees and those with refugee-like experiences. These recommendations will aim to enhance their sense of belonging, foster social inclusion, and improve their access to resources, creating more equitable and welcoming urban spaces.
Ultimately, this research aspires to inform inclusive urban planning practices that recognize the complex, intersecting needs of Muslim women refugees. It will contribute to the development of urban environments where these women can navigate spaces with safety and dignity, access resources equitably, and rebuild their lives with autonomy and resilience.
References
McClean, S., Bray, I., De Viggiani, N., Bird, E. and Pilkington, P. (2019) Research Methods for Public Health. 1st edition. London: SAGE Publications.
Bignante, E. (2010) The use of photo-elicitation in field research. EchoGéo. (11).
Casey, P.M. (2018) Stigmatized Identities: Too Muslim to Be American, Too American to Be Muslim. Symbolic Interaction. 41 (1).
Galonnier, J. (2015) The racialization of Muslims in France and the United States: Some insights from white converts to Islam. Social Compass. 62 (4).
Husain, A. (2019) Moving beyond (and back to) the black–white binary: a study of black and white Muslims’ racial positioning in the United States. Ethnic and Racial Studies. 42 (4).
Muhanna-Matar, A. (2022) The emerging intersectional performative gender of displaced Syrian women in southeast Turkey. Gender, Place and Culture. 29 (6).
Parekh, S. (2020) No refuge: Ethics and the global refugee crisis No Refuge: Ethics and the Global Refugee Crisis.
Yuval-Davis, N. (2006) Intersectionality and Feminist Politics. 13 (3), pp. 193–209.
Harper, D. (2015) Visual Methods in the Social Sciences. In: International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences: Second Edition.
| Keywords | Inclusion; Spatial Integration; Muslim Women Refugees; host cities; Intersectionality |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
