Refugee Mothers

Rape, Pregnancy, and Children

Many refugee women are subject to gender violence and to subordinate positions within their surroundings. Many become mothers in a refugee camp, often as a result of rape in the same camp where they are supposed to be safe. They are also subject to intimidation by male leaders. Men make most of the decisions pertaining to women's livelihood in refugee camps, and women's subordinate status is evident in their having to do most of the labor in the refugee camp.

Some women become mothers as a result of being raped on their way to the camp. This is a traumatic experience that marks them for life. The assault may take place during attacks by predators along the way or at the hands of the person who is supposedly guiding the refugees to safety. In both cases, sexual assault is used as a weapon against women in times of war and political turmoil.

Other refugee mothers bring their children with them as they seek a safe haven from war, persecution, or natural disasters. These mothers are the most vulnerable of all, as they have to look after not only themselves but also their children. In these circumstances, they tend to place their children's welfare above their own. There may also be cultural expectations for mothers to become involved in development projects and to look after others while trying to keep their own family together. These responsibilities tend to impact the women's physical and mental health, which slowly deteriorate over time and are often expressed through psychosomatic complaints such as headaches and stomach pains.

Trauma, Loss, and Grief

More often than not, refugee mothers have been exposed to horrendous experiences, such as torture or witnessing the killing of a close family member [Page 1055]or friend. These experiences often manifest in symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including but not limited to crying spells, low self-esteem, sleeping disturbances, traumatic nightmares, startle responses, outbursts of anger, intrusive thoughts, hyperarousal, depression, and avoidance. Refugee mothers' traumatic experiences can thus result in a series of personal difficulties that, if left unresolved, can hinder settlement and acculturation in their new country. Most refugee mothers tend to be homesick and romanticize their country of origin. The legacy of civil war and trauma, which often includes PTSD symptoms, will significantly influence the parent-child relationships of refugees even after they have settled for some time in a safe country of asylum.

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