Family, Culture and Migrant Women: How Family Shapes Post-Migration Lives

In refugee contexts, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2018) defines the family as a core unit of individuals connected by blood, marriage, or adoption, typically including spouses and children. For refugee women, family is not only a social structure but a primary site where cultural values, norms, and expectations are formed and reinforced. Pre-migration cultural frameworks are often shaped within the family, influencing women’s roles, identities, and perceived social status (Morrison & James, 2009).

In many contexts, these cultural norms position women in subordinate roles relative to men, reinforcing dependency within family systems (UNHCR, 2013). This dynamic can limit autonomy and reduce access to opportunities, leaving some refugee women reliant on family relationships in ways that may constrain confidence and agency (Driel & Verkuyten, 2022). As a result, family can function simultaneously as a source of support and a structure that maintains inequality.

At the same time, the family remains one of the most influential institutions shaping refugee women’s post-migration experiences, particularly in relation to acculturation (Driel & Verkuyten, 2022; Lacroix et al., 2014). Morrison and James (2009) demonstrated that acculturation is not a uniform process within families. Differences in gender roles and generational positions can lead to divergent acculturation strategies, which may disrupt family cohesion. As individuals adapt at different rates or in different ways, tensions can emerge, often manifesting as conflict within the family system. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating cultural and gender awareness into family and community-level interventions.

Empirical work further illustrates how these dynamics unfold in specific contexts. Baird and Boyle (2012), for example, found that Dinka refugee women in Australia experienced significant challenges adjusting to shifting gender norms. Language barriers contributed to isolation, loss of social status, and restricted access to education and employment, often resulting in continued economic marginalisation. Their findings underscore gender as a socially constructed and context-dependent factor that shapes post-migration experiences, particularly where there is tension between pre- and post-migration expectations (Baird & Boyle, 2012; Morrison & James, 2009; Phillimore, 2011; Smith, 2009).

Importantly, pre-migration norms do not disappear upon resettlement. Refugee women frequently rely on social networks composed of individuals from similar cultural backgrounds, which can reinforce existing gender norms and practices in the host environment (Greene et al., 2023; Kirmayer et al., 2011; Kiselev et al., 2020). While these networks can provide essential support, they may also maintain restrictive norms that limit women’s autonomy and access to broader social systems.

Duderija (2017) further explored how patriarchal interpretations within some cultural and religious contexts can reinforce gendered power structures, positioning men as authority figures and women within domestic roles. These interpretations are not fixed but are shaped by broader cultural and societal influences. However, when embedded within family systems, they can significantly constrain women’s ability to assert independence and negotiate change.

This is reflected in research showing that male family members may restrict women’s engagement with external institutions, including access to education, employment, and psychosocial support (Van der Boor, 2020). In some cases, women are actively discouraged from seeking help, which limits their access to services and reinforces isolation.

Taken together, these findings demonstrate that family and culture are central to understanding refugee women’s post-migration experiences. Family can act as both a protective structure and a site where inequality is reproduced. Pre-migration norms, when carried into post-migration contexts, continue to shape women’s opportunities, relationships, and access to support. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing interventions that are both culturally informed and responsive to the complexities of women’s lived experiences.

References (APA style)

Baird, M., & Boyle, J. (2012).Driel, B. van, & Verkuyten, M. (2022).Duderija, A. (2017).Greene, M. et al. (2023).Kirmayer, L. J. et al. (2011).Kiselev, N. et al. (2020).Lacroix, M. et al. (2014).Morrison, V., & James, S. (2009).Phillimore, J. (2011).Smith, K. (2009).United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2013).United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018).Van der Boor, C. (2020).