Title of presentation

Author 1Author 2Author 3

THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF IMMIGRANT WOMEN

AS A STRUGGLE TO CREATE THEIR OWN

LIVING PLACES?Roja Tafaroji

Professor Dory Reeves

In the context of GenderSTE

• The perspective of the ‘outsider’ in order to contribute to our

understanding of changing societies during last globalization period.

• The challenges and opportunities which are based on different insights

and experiences of newcomers. It is particularly in accordance with giving

better definitions of marginalization and identification process of

immigrants in their new place.

Difference and Marginalized Women

• The epistemology of difference by feminist theories

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• The epistemology of difference by feminist theories- Rational Feminism (based on Liberal political theories):

Relying on the feminist insight originally introduced by Simone De Beauvoir (1949), women as a group had been socially defined as the “other”.

- Postmodern Feminism:

Nancy Fraser and Judith Butler insist on studying the differences within the gender and criticizing “the category of gender identity”.

- The Feminist Standpoint Theory:

Sandra Harding (1986), explains the importance of recognizing sameness and difference between women. She posits that women’s sameness comes from their “otherness” which has been assigned by men. She also points out differences between women based on where they come from and belong to.

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Difference and Marginalized Women

Figure 1. Total Population of Immigrants at mid-year 2013 by region (thousands)

Source: (United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2013)

WORLD ASIA EUROPE

LATINAMERICAAND THE

CARIBBEAN

NORTHERNAMERICA

OCEANIA AFRICA

Total 7 162 119 4 298 723 742 452 616 645 355 361 38 304 1 110 635

Female 3 551 649 2 098 612 384 925 313 273 180 346 19 146 555 346

0

1 000

2 000

3 000

4 000

5 000

6 000

7 000

8 000

Tho

usa

nd

s

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Immigration and Women

Figure 2. Female migrants as a percentage of the international migrant stock by region and area, 2013

Source: (United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2013)

48.0

41.6

51.9

51.6

51.2

50.2

45.9

WORLD

ASIA

EUROPE

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

NORTHERN AMERICA

OCEANIA

AFRICA

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Immigration and Women

Figure 3. Religious Composition of International Migrants by percentage and estimated numbers of

all migrants who belong to each religious group

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Immigration and Women

Table 1. Muslim Population by Region 2012

Source: (Pew Research Religion and Public Life Project, 2012)

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Estimated 2010

Muslim

Population

Estimated 2010

Total Population

Percentage of

Population that is

Muslim

Asia-Pacific 985,530,000 4,054,990,000 24.3%

Middle East-North

Africa

317,070,000 341,020,000 93.0

Sub-Saharan Africa 248,110,000 822,720,000 30.2

Europe 43,490,000 742,550,000 5.9

North America 3,480,000 344,530,000 1.0

Latin America-

Caribbean

840,000 590,080,000 0.1

World Total 1,598,510,000 6,895,890,000 23.2

Muslim Population by Region

Figure 4. Populations of Afghan Immigrants by Country of Destination, mid-2013 Estimates

Source: (Migration Policy Institute, 2013)

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Afghan Immigrants in Developed Regions

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Afghan Women as Immigrants

• Social Relations

• Religion

• Culture,

• Domination, Subordination, and Masculinity

Source: (Bhanji, 2011; Khan, 2002; Lipson & Miller, 1994; Rostami-Povey, 2007)

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Afghan Women’s Gender Identity

• From a Collective Culture

Afghan Women’s Gender Identity

• From a Collective Culture

Afghan Women’s Gender Identity

• From a Collective Culture

Afghan Women’s Gender Identity

• To a Liberal Culture (Individualism)

Afghan Women’s Gender Identity

Afghan Women’s Gender Identity

• To a Liberal Culture (Individualism)

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• Creating the place of Identification and Belonging within the locals’ place

Public Life

Private Life

Women Redefining Difference

• Ethic of CareWomen’s primacy of their concern for people whom they feel

responsible.Women’s attachment to their surroundings is shaped through their

attachment to the people in their surrounding environment whom they feel responsible towards them.

Afghan immigrant women spend most of their day-time interacting with the people around themselves.

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Women Redefining Difference

• Reliving Memory

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Women Redefining Difference

• Meaning of everyday life

Piotr Sztompka(2008) clarifies the concept of “everyday life”:

- as the observable manifestation of social existence,

- as the cyclical and rhythmic event over a variety of time periods,

- as being ritualized and habitual,

- as being engaged with others to participate in activities,

- as having a certain temporal duration,

- as the semi-conscious/unconscious event , and

- as being localized in particular spaces.

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Everyday life and Resistance

Difference

Afghan Immigrant

Women

ResistanceEveryday Life Experience

Re-actualization of Memories

Integration and

Identification

Ethic of Care and

Attachment

Developed Societies

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Everyday life and Resistance

• “Third Space” as an in-between position,

• “Locations of Struggle” in “Communities of

Resistance”, and

• “Political Space”

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Source: (Lefebvre, 1991; Keith et al., 1993)

Discussion and Conclusion

• Understanding Difference leads to creation of

better quality living spaces within the urban

context.

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Discussion and Conclusion