Table Of ContentKennesaw State University
Running head: AFGHAN WOMEN REFUGEES 1
The Lived Experience of Afghan Women Refugees in Three Metropolitan Areas of the
Southeastern US: A Phenomenological Study
by
Brenda Brown, RN, BSN, MS, DNS(c), CNE
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements of
Doctorate of Nursing Science
Kennesaw State University
WellStar College of Health and Human Services
March 2018
Copyright by
Brenda Jean Brown
2018
Running head: AFGHAN WOMEN REFUGEES 3
Acknowledgements
First, to my husband, Keith, I thank you so very much for your unwavering support of my
doctoral education. Thank you for returning to work full time so that I could focus on my studies.
Thank you for being willing to forgo other plans so I had time to complete assignments. Thank
you for the greatest sacrifice of all – being willing to travel to Afghanistan with me and allowing
me to make the second trip alone – so I could fulfill one of my greatest dreams. You have pushed
me, encouraged me, and challenged me as I endeavored to achieve my doctoral degree. Many
times your support kept me from giving up.
To my parents, Dave and Wanda Shadle, thank you for your continued support
throughout all my educational pursuits from the beginning of the undergraduate nursing program
at the University of North Georgia to my Master’s program at Regis University and now to my
doctoral education at Kennesaw State University. You have always been interested in and
rejoiced with me for each accomplishment.
To my nursing colleagues at Brenau University - Elizabeth Conoley, Maureen Vidrine,
Jean Moore, Judy Bradberry, and Keeta Wilborn - you have supported and encouraged me along
the way. Keeta, the picture that hung in your office and that you passed on to me has helped me
more than once to keep on and “Never, ever, ever, give up.”
To my co-workers and fellow doctoral students at KSU – many many thanks. Without
you the journey would have been too long and lonely.
To the absolute best dissertation committee I could have had – Dr. Mary de Chesnay, Dr.
Stacy Keltner, Dr. Nicole Moreno (former), and Dr. Camilla Payne. You have pushed me,
encouraged me, listened to me, and finally, heard my dissertation defense. Thanks for your
interest in my research and feedback for improvements.
And, to the Kennesaw State University WellStar School of Nursing program and faculty,
you have given me an outstanding doctoral education. I hope to honor KSU and the SON in my
future endeavors.
To my interpreters – Shamsi and Ellie - thanks for all your hard work. I could never have
accomplished this without you.
Finally, to the women refugees who participated and their families, you are some of the
strongest people I know. Your journey from Afghanistan to the US has been an undertaking of
heroic proportions. And to all refugees in the US – may you find the better life that you seek and
be richly blessed with peace and safety.
Running head: AFGHAN WOMEN REFUGEES 5
Abstract
The global refugee crisis has reached epic proportions. Statistics from the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 2016) reported that in 2015 a record 65.3 million
people worldwide, or 39,976 people per day, were displaced, either within their native countries
or as asylees and refugees. Afghanistan, from 1980-2014, was the country with the largest
number of outgoing refugees and it now ranks third in the world. At the opposite end of the
continuum the United States remains the primary host country for refugees, asylees, and resettled
refugees from all countries, including Afghanistan. The refugee experience is fraught with
challenges from life in the native country to the decision to leave to the resettlement process in
the US. The author has had a longstanding interest in Afghanistan and the Afghan refugees.
Understanding the lived experience of the women refugees is important for nurses and other
healthcare professionals who will eventually care for the women. This study used a
phenomenological approach to make sense of and find meaning in this experience. The study
also used the intersectionality feminist theory to explore ways in which the Afghan women
refugees may be marginalized in the US. The women have demonstrated resilience and strength
in coping with this traumatic life event and their stories deserve to be heard.
Table of Contents
I. Chapter 1: Introduction
A. Introduction 9
B. Purpose 11
C. Research question and aims 13
D. Significance 13
E. Theoretical framework 15
F. Assumptions 26
G. Definition of terms 27
H. Limitations 28
I. Delimitations 29
J. Summary 31
II. Chapter 2: Literature Review
A. Literature Review 34
B. Background information 36
C. Afghan Women in Afghanistan 39
D. Afghan refugee women in Iran and Pakistan 49
E. Afghan women refugees in Western countries 51
F. Afghan women refugees in the US 56
G. Summary 61
III. Chapter 3: Methodology
A. Design 65
B. Sample, Consent, & IRB 71
C. Setting 86
D. Instrument & Data Collection 89
Running head: AFGHAN WOMEN REFUGEES 7
E. Rigor: Accuracy and Replicability 91
F. Data Analysis 95
G. Procedures 96
H. Research with Vulnerable Populations and Language Barriers 97
I. Summary 98
IV. Chapter 4: Analysis
A. Description of Participants 101
B. Findings 103
1. Theme 1: Starting Over 104
2. Theme 2: The Hopes and Realities of Life in America 113
3. Theme 3: Holes in My Heart 117
4. Theme 4: Movies in My Mind 128
5. Theme 5: Strong and Resourceful Women 130
6. Theme 6: Coping – How Will I Live This Life? 135
7. Theme 7: Afghanistan - Past Sorrows and Future Fears 141
C. Findings Related to Intersectionality Feminist Theory 144
D. Summary 149
V. Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations
A. Overview of the Study 151
B. Discussion 152
C. Meanings of the Lived Experience of the Afghan Refugee Women 154
D. Contribution to Nursing Knowledge 164
E. Implications 166
F. Future Research 167
G. Summary 168
H. Personal Narrative 168
VI. References 170
VII. Appendix A: Arrivals of Afghans to the US 189
VIII. Appendix B: Arrivals of Afghans to States 190
IX. Appendix C: Consent 191
X. Appendix D: Semi-structured Interview Questions 193
XI. Appendix E: Timeline 194
Running head: AFGHAN WOMEN REFUGEES 9
The Lived Experience of Afghan Women Refugees in Metropolitan Atlanta: A
Phenomenological Study
Chapter 1: Introduction
The refugee crisis has become a global crisis and is not likely to be resolved soon, if ever.
Statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 2016) reported
that in 2015 a record 65.3 million people worldwide, or 39,976 people per day, were displaced,
either within their native countries or as asylees and refugees. The breakdown of the 65.3 million
was: asylees - 3.2 million, internally displaced persons (IDP) - 40.8 million, and refugees – 21.3
million. Afghanistan, from 1980-2014, was the country with the largest number of outgoing
refugees and it now ranks third in the world. At the opposite end of the continuum the United
States remains the primary host country for refugees, asylees, and resettled refugees from all
countries, including Afghanistan. In fact, the number of asylee claims in the US rose from
36,800 in 2013 to 121,200 in 2014, a 44% increase. A report from the Migration Policy Institute
(MPI) by Zong & Batalova (2015, October 8) stated that for fiscal year (FY) 2015, the United
States resettled 69,933 refugees. As one solution to this massive refugee crisis, the Obama
administration proposed increasing the number of refugees the US allows each year fr om 70,000
in FY 2015 to 85,000 in FY 2016 and 100,000 in FY 2017. Additionally, the number of Syrian
refugees admitted would be at least 10,000 for FY 2016.
The Soviet takeover in 1979 marked the beginning of the Afghan refugee exodus. The
initial destina tions for most refugees w ere the refugee camps in Pakistan and Iran, where some
still reside. Other Afghan refugees have made their way to Western host countries , such as the
US, and reside as asylees (See Appendix A). Within the US, Georgia is one of the top ten states
for refugee resettlement (Zong & Batalova,, 2015) and one of the seven states with the most
