Acculturation of Syrian refugees in the Netherlands: Religion as social identity andboundary marker

Author(s):  
AyŞe Şafak-AyvazoĞlu ◽  
Filiz KünüroĞlu ◽  
Fons Van de Vijver ◽  
Kutlay YaĞmur

Abstract We studied the acculturation processes of Syrian refugees in the Netherlands, based on semi-structured in-depth interviews. The study aims to investigate how Syrian refugees perceive the cultural distance caused by the differences and boundaries between Syrian and Dutch culture; how they cope with the boundaries and prejudice that they perceive; and which acculturation orientations they prefer. The research builds mainly on the framework of Berry’s acculturation model. Religion emerges as a prominent issue in the acculturation process and is found to impact acculturation as it is perceived to be a cause of cultural distance, a salient social identity, a bright boundary and a source of prejudice in the host country. Our findings suggest that refugees’ religious identity strongly influences their coping strategies and preferred acculturation orientations. Refugees with low/no religious affiliation were more in favour of an assimilation orientation whereas refugees with strong religious identity preferred an integration orientation.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-108
Author(s):  
Madina M. Shakhbanova ◽  

The article deals with the manifestation of the religious identity of the urban population of Dagestan. The obtained empirical data show the dominance of the Republican type of social identity with a large preponderance in the mass consciousness of the respondents. The author's hypothesis about the importance of religious identity for respondents was not confirmed by the results of the study, because the designation of unity with co-religionists by respondents prevails only in a subgroup of convinced believers. In addition, the awareness of community with representatives of their ethnic community is of great importance for citizens. At the same time, the study revealed contradictory behavior of citizens: for example, the study of the religious identity of the urban population indicates the prevalence of the importance of religious affiliation. In addition, empirical data shows the existence in the attitudes of citizens of the consideration of religion as an integral part of ethno-culture, which is quite natural in the observed synthesis of ethnic and religious factors in the form of ethno-confessional identity. The level of trust in various social spheres, in particular religious institutions, contributes to the formation of a positive religious identity to a certain extent. The survey data indicates a weak level of trust in co-religionists, while at the same time its high manifestation to the near radius.


Author(s):  
Adee Bodewes ◽  
Charles Agyemang ◽  
Karien Stronks ◽  
Anton E. Kunst

Background: In many countries, recent migrants have difficulties using healthcare to the same extent as host populations. It is uncertain whether these differences persist for long-settled migrants. This study examined healthcare utilisation of Moluccans in 2012, more than 60 years after they migrated from Indonesia to the Netherlands. Methods: A survey was held among 715 Moluccans and 3417 Dutch persons. Differences in healthcare utilisation were assessed using regression analyses adjusting for age, gender, indicators of health, religious affiliation, and education. Results: Moluccans had lower rates of healthcare use, including visits to the general practitioner (odds ratio (OR) = 0.67), outpatient medical specialist (OR = 0.50), dentist (OR = 0.65), and physiotherapist (OR = 0.56), as well as the use of paid housekeeping services (OR = 0.37). Among those who visited a healthcare service, no difference was found between Moluccans and Dutch in the frequency of visits, except for physiotherapist visits (rate ratio (RR) = 0.51). For the risk of hospitalisation, no difference was found; however, of those admitted to the hospital, the frequency of admission was lower among Moluccans than Dutch (RR = 0.74). Conclusions: Despite their long residence in the host country, equal utilisation of healthcare services has not been achieved for Moluccans in the Netherlands. Demand-based factors (e.g., family networks, health beliefs, and use of traditional medicine) may contribute to the persistence of such differences and require further investigation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Haj-Younes ◽  
E Strømme ◽  
W Hasha ◽  
J Igland ◽  
E Abildsnes ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Lack of basic infrastructure and poor provision of health services in conflict settings and during flight can have a negative impact on health. The overall health status of refugees seems to improve after arrival at a safe destination. This may be related to a safer environment and better access to health care services, but prior studies on this topic are limited. This study aims to assess self-perceived access to healthcare and its relationship with self-rated health (SRH) among refugees in transit and when settled in a host country. Methods We used data from the CHART study (Changing Health and health care needs Along the Syrian Refugees' Trajectories to Norway), which includes a cohort of 353 Syrian refugees who were contacted in 2017-2018 in Lebanon while waiting for relocation, and one year after their arrival to Norway. Information on self-perceived access to healthcare and its association with SRH was analyzed separately at each time-point. Data analysis was performed with STATA using logistic regression adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity and years of education and presented as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% CI. Results Fifteen percent reported good access to healthcare and 62% reported good SRH in Lebanon vs. 91% and 77% respectively, in Norway. Measures in Lebanon showed no association between access to healthcare and good SRH (AOR: 1.2 (0.6-2.2)), and men reported worse access to healthcare than women (AOR: 0.5 (0.3-1.0). In Norway, access to healthcare was strongly associated with good SRH (AOR: 4.7 (2.1-10.7) and was negatively associated with belonging to one specific minority group (AOR: 0.1 (0.0-0.3)). Conclusions Both SRH and perceived access to care improved from being in transit to being settled in Norway, the latter substantially more. There was a significant association between access to healthcare and good SRH after the refugees' arrival to a safe host country but not in transit. Key messages Refugee’s self-reported health and access to healthcare seem to improve shortly after arrival to a host country. To ensure that the UN’S Sustainable Development Goals concerning health equity are reached, refugees’ access to healthcare in transit and its impact on overall health needs to be addressed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 824-841
Author(s):  
Jennifer Loh ◽  
Alicia F. Estrellado

This study explored the day-to-day experiences of female Filipino domestic workers in Singapore, including their working conditions, employee–employer relationships, and psychological health. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 women. Using grounded theory, the emergent themes revealed high levels of variation, both within and between women, suggesting that the quality of domestic workers’ lives depends largely on the personal characteristics of their employers or the workers themselves, rather than on any system of protection. More importantly, participants displayed positive and resilient coping strategies which enabled them to thrive despite restrictive circumstances. Implications pertaining to capabilities and empowerment development were discussed.


Numen ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Rinehart

AbstractThe Punjabi poet Bullhe Shah (1680-1758) is revered by Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. In the extensive body of interpretive literature devoted to his life and work, scholars have contested his religious identity, characterizing Bullhe Shah in various ways, e. g. as a Sufi, a Vedantic Sufi, or a Vai ava Vedantic Sufi. This article examines the nature of the debates about Bullhe Shah's identity, and how these debates have shaped the varying portrayals of Bullhe Shah's life, the corpus of his poetry, and the characterization of his religious affiliation. I argue that a series of unexamined assumptions — about the nature of biography and its relation to the development of a worldview, about the categorization of religious identity, and about the nature of authorship — have created these conflicting portrayals of the poet and his work, making Bullhe Shah a kind of "portable" figure who is placed in widely divergent contexts. I conclude by arguing that Bullhe Shah's portability, or his placement within different contexts (for different purposes), is itself a useful topic for analysis, and provides the basis for a potentially more fruitful study not only of Bullhe Shah's life and work, but also of his audiences and their responses to him.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (37) ◽  
pp. 253-269
Author(s):  
Irma Wani Othman ◽  
Muhammad Safuan Yusoff ◽  
Mohd Sohaimi Esa ◽  
Mohd Azri Ibrahim ◽  
Budi Anto Mohd Tamring ◽  
...  

The presence of international staff or independent expatriate academicians in the cross border higher education world today is indeed a global issue that brings benefits to the development of higher education worldwide. The decision taken by independent expatriate academicians to come to the host country to pursue a career as an academician will certainly have useful implications on the career they are pursuing. Through in-depth interviews based on a qualitative approach adopted on thirty (30) selected voluntarily respondents in three public universities, the objective of this study was to find out the implications on self-development of careers as independent expatriate academicians serving in the host country. From the findings received as a result of the interviews conducted, the implications for self-development in terms of the career which could be seen were (I) Promotion (II) Lucrative income (III) Security in Malaysia and (IV) Harmony in the workplace. From each finding stated by the respondents involved, it had been proven that the decision was taken by independent expatriate academicians to the host country in pursuing a career as an academician had given the positive implication that indirectly brought benefits to themselves. The implications for self-development on a career as an independent expatriate academician were also able to lead to the retention of human resources of independent expatriate academicians which can reduce the turnover rate in an organisation such as academics in Malaysian Public Institutions of Higher Learning.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Nageswara Rao Ambati

This study attempts to understand social and educational experiences of students with disabilities in institutions of higher education and is exploratory in nature. To understand the educational experiences of these students, it is not enough to know only the availability of services and resources. It is also necessary to understand the students personally, and the circumstances in which they live. To answer the research questions posed in this study, the researcher has used mixed methods and three universities were selected through purposive sampling in so as to gain maximum diverse variation. For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with hundred students with disabilities in selected universities in Andhra Pradesh, India. In this study, quantitative and qualitative data analyses were used and in most cases quotes of real text for each theme were maintained and used extensively. The findings of the study show the students were very categorical about their special needs in order to achieve their goals. A greater understanding has been gained regarding coping strategies adopted by them to manage their higher education needs. Based on findings of the study the researcher has brought out the factors which influence the creation of an inclusive environment in institutions of higher education.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document