Self in the New Social Structure
摘要
Chapter 10 analyzes the social and structural problems that refugees face in terms of their status, their gendered experiences, class positions, and issues of prejudice and discrimination. Displacement and war experience are challenging for all refugees, yet, experience in the new setting is not identical for individuals who are pushed to a singular “refugee” positionality. Chapter 10 looks at the differences between middle- and upper-middle-class refugees and refugees who came from either lower classes or rural areas. The stark class differences are presented, along with some unexpected advantages and disadvantages. The chapter shows how structurally induced class divisions deepen micro-level prejudice and discrimination. The refugee-self is continuously positioned in the larger community to empathize with the receiving community’s feelings. While refugees face prejudice and discrimination, the analysis shows that they live in a dual and acute consciousness, on the one hand empathizing with the host community’s reaction to changing demographics, on the other hand, desiring rights as human beings. Such simultaneity makes it difficult to channel blame in a simplistic way, as they have access to multiple seeing. The chapter reveals strong links between the de-regulated market economy and banal racism and discrimination that refugees experience.