Spatiality of Social Stress Experienced by Refugee Women in Initial Reception Centers

Abstract

This study takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the multi-dimensionality of social stress within the spatiality of initial refugee reception centers in Berlin. By focusing particularly on the experiences of women who fled from Syria and Afghanistan, it situates this humanitarian issue within an analytical framework of gender-sensitive and culturally sensitive research and policymaking. Through qualitative interviews with 11 refugee women, the connection between the spatiality of initial reception centers and social stress is explored. This is done by thematically coding the data collected in the context of nine different initial reception centers across various districts in the city of Berlin. The study shows that in terms of the intercultural needs and practices of these women, social stress is triggered by a lack of essential privacy within the spatiality of these structures. However, privacy is not limited to a physical enclosure—it is about having control/freedom over different aspects of everyday life. This article highlights intercultural gaps in gender-sensitive and protection considerations during humanitarian responses.

(Over)crowded house: exploring asylum seekers’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic while living at accommodation centers in Sweden

“…This could provide valuable information on adjustments to local conditions as well as create a sense of ownership at the grassroots level, which might also be important for enabling people to increase their control over their health, and could create an environment of trust, all of which are beneficial to people’s health [ 40 ]. Similar result has been shown in a German study on refugee women in reception centers, where the authors conclude that engaging the community in planning and designing these settings can moderate social conflict and the adaptation to the physical surrounding [ 48 ]. In another study from Sweden, which centered on asylum seekers at accommodation centers, it was observed that despite facing challenges, asylum seekers at accommodation centers developed caregiving networks and peer support systems to care for each other [ 9 ].…”

Negotiating Aspirations in Displacement

“…Some systems that require asylum seekers to live in institutionalised residences and have labour market limitations have been shown to lead to the erosion of asylum seekers' meaning in life (Murphy et al, 2019). Recent research shows that the spatiality of refugee reception centres often stands in the way for residents to enact their social freedom and agency as well as constrict the potential for social relations (Nassim et al, 2021). Limited opportunities to engage in meaningful activities, together with long waiting times, have often been proven to negatively affect asylum seekers' mental health, hindering their subsequent socio-economic integration (Bakker et al, 2014;Hainmueller et al, 2016).…”

Haqqani, Nyma; Herrebosch, Nathan; Jackson, Jane; Juma, Ismat; Kanaan, Faten; (2023) Institute for Global Prosperity 2021-22 Master’s Dissertation Special Issue, Part 1

“…The study as such highlights the importance of integrating gender into spatial planning and more emphasis on women's experience of spaces in order to fully reflect the complex nature of their everyday social reality (Nassim et al, 2021).…”

“…In regards ES, I found a contradiction between ES and SS when looking at the findings from WF and existing literature. Whereas, WF suggests that there is a difference between SS and ES (Red:GLOW, 2021) [B,D,A], literature tends to use the term interchangeably to indicate the concept that WF views as 'empowering space' (Lewis et al, 2015;Mountz, 2017). This is especially true in terms of WGSS initiatives, which as per its description (Figure 4) overlaps ES and SS in humanitarian settings (Vermehren, 2021).…”

“…SS are operationally defined, as a physical space where individuals can be safe from physical harm or threat, the feminist movement, uses the term mostly in reference to a dedicated physical space for survivors of domestic violence and rape, for establishing freedom of expression and safe from discrimination. In the development context however, SS have been used interchangeably with "safe haven" by professionals working on displacement and refugee issues in conflict areas (Mountz, 2017).…”