Exploring Subjective Experiences of Human Rights Violations Among Refugee Women: A Phenomenological Inquiry
Keywords:
Refugee women, human rights violations, phenomenology, emotional suffering, institutional exclusion, Tehran, resilience strategiesAbstract
This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of refugee women residing in Tehran regarding the human rights violations they encounter in their daily lives. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study examined the subjective narratives of 28 refugee women who had experienced displacement due to conflict or persecution. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and engaged in in-depth, semi-structured interviews until theoretical saturation was achieved. Interviews were conducted in participants’ preferred languages, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using NVivo software. The research emphasized capturing the psychological, social, and institutional dimensions of perceived human rights violations, with particular attention to structural exclusion, emotional suffering, and resilience strategies. Three main themes emerged from the data: systemic and institutional marginalization, psychological and emotional suffering, and resistance and coping strategies. Women reported experiences of legal invisibility, discrimination in access to healthcare, housing, and education, and exploitative labor conditions. Emotional impacts included chronic fear, depression, trauma, and internalized stigma. Despite these challenges, participants demonstrated agency through informal social networks, faith-based practices, and self-advocacy. The narratives revealed a dynamic interplay between vulnerability and resilience, highlighting how refugee women make meaning of and respond to persistent rights violations in the host country. The study underscores the multifaceted nature of human rights violations experienced by refugee women and the inadequacy of current policy responses. It calls for the integration of legal, psychosocial, and community-based interventions that recognize refugee women not only as victims but as active agents in their own lives. Addressing both structural injustices and emotional well-being is essential for developing effective, rights-based support systems.
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