African refugee spouses' experience of resettlement in regional Australia: Disempowering and empowering narratives

Abstract

This study examined the experiences of eight African refugees resettled in regional Australia. Informed by the notion/idea of intersectionality and others, this study utilised interviews to capture the role of gender, culture, contextual realities of Australia and the participants’ family relations to analyse experiences of gender conflict. The study found that among other things, financial pressures, self-development and differences in power relations contributed to conflict and sometimes separation of couples. The article argues that this gendered experience of the participants both empowers and disempowers, and that social workers need to be aware of these tensions and use advocacy to improve clients’ living realities.