Empowerment and integration of refugee women: a transdisciplinary approach

Female refugees encounter unique challenges in host societies. These challenges often surpass those faced by male refugees, particularly in accessing the job market and making economic contributions to their new communities. Despite substantial literature on the challenges faced by refugee women, there remains a significant gap in research specifically focused on targeted educational and entrepreneurial interventions for this demographic. Additionally, studies exploring effective integration strategies through such targeted initiatives are notably scarce. This study, motivated by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, seeks to fill this gap by examining the intersection of gender, immigration status, and climate change adaptation. It evaluates the effectiveness of an educational intervention tailored for refugee women within a transdisciplinary framework incorporating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) and social science disciplines. This intervention aims to enhance subjective well-being, particularly by fostering sustainable entrepreneurship, facilitating integration into host societies, and fostering long-term contributions to climate change adaptation and resilience. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study yields quantitative findings suggesting positive shifts in participants' overall well-being post-intervention, albeit not reaching statistical significance. Qualitative analysis reveals four central themes: pre-program feelings of isolation and detachment, personal growth, supportive ecosystems, and increased sense of belonging. The qualitative findings serve to complement and enrich our understanding of the intervention's effectiveness, offering valuable insights that may not be fully captured through quantitative measures alone. From these findings, it is evident that a gender-focused approach is essential for providing tailored integration support. These insights are valuable for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders alike. By recognizing and addressing the specific challenges faced by refugee women during resettlement, this intervention not only facilitates their integration into host societies but also enhances their overall well-being.

Maissa Khatib, Tanya Purwar, Rushabh Shah, Maricarmen Vizcaino, Luciano Castillo