Eleventh Global Studies Conference

Abstract

We need to take a serious approach to understand and support refugee women who survived various gender persecutions in contemporary German society. In this study, specific narratives of refugee women are presented to discuss recent asylum seeking patterns. What led the women to leave their countries? What are their particular reasons for asylum seeking? What experiences and legacies do refugee women bring into Germany? Refugee women’s current realities in Germany are also analyzed. What are the most urgent problems and how can they be addressed with legal and institutional support? The researcher takes a intersectionality approach. For example, multiple identities (e.g., woman, refugee, non-citizen, person of color, low-income status) that an individual woman holds burden her altogether in complicated ways. The discussion takes a further step to look at the gender politics in Germany. How far has the German society reached in terms of gender equality? What is still needed to be done? What are the particularly relevant issues to refugee women? These questions are explored using historical reflection, current statistics, and analysis of policy agenda.