The ‘Private’ Sphere of Integration? Reconfiguring Gender Roles Within Syrian Refugee Families in the UK

Abstract

Abstract Drawing on qualitative research with resettled Syrian refugee families in Oxfordshire, UK, this article explores changes in gender roles and norms within these families. While issues related to the integration of refugees have been a central concern in policy discussions in the Global North, most research undertaken has been ‘gender-blind’, consequently making invisible the different experiences encountered by male and female refugees in the process of integration. Based on 60 semi-structured interviews with resettled Syrian families, 20 interviews with staff members from local NGOs and government agencies, and two focus group discussions with female refugees, we discovered that changes in gender roles and responsibilities often resulted in confusion, disputes, and tension between wives and husbands. By exploring these ‘private’ challenges, the article ultimately proposes a more holistic understanding of refugee integration, shedding more light on the socio-cultural dimension of integration—crucial knowledge for facilitating the smooth adjustment of refugees into a very different living environment.