Zimbabwean parents' experiences of bearing and raising children in the UK

Abstract

Zimbabweans represent a growing population in the UK, yet little is known about their experiences of parenting once settled in the UK. Zimbabweans in the UK are currently a ‘silent subset’ of the broader migrant population, marginalised and relatively unheard, warranting further investigation into their parenting experiences. This study explored Zimbabwean migrant parents’ experiences of bearing and raising children in the UK and their perspectives on how they sustain their children’s health and wellbeing. The Silences Framework (TSF) offers a lens through which the Zimbabwean parents' experiences are made visible in this study. Hermeneutic phenomenology was employed as a research methodology from van Manen's perspective and data was collected through individual in-depth interviews with five fathers and five mothers settled in South Yorkshire, UK. The analysis approach integrates the four phases of TSF cyclic analysis and thematic analysis process by van Manen. Findings from this study show that parenting experiences in the UK are largely influenced by cultural background, religious beliefs and how the parents were raised. Parenting in a new culture requires parents to rely on an interdependent system of support which can include spouses, extended family, other migrant families, children's schools and health professionals. In Zimbabwe, raising children is a collective effort of community networks and kinship structures. There is concern about the children's sense of belonging in the UK, which is defined as multi-layered. Research findings may help to increase knowledge on the Zimbabwean diaspora, add insight in the everyday life of migrant families and therefore influence policies, practices and future research. While some findings are specific to the Zimbabwean diaspora, others are concerns that migrant families have irrespective of place of origin.