Title: Beyond the Multicultural Veil: Feminist Critiques on Leisure Experiences of Racialized Mother and Daughter Refugees Resettled in Canada
Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Moss Norman
Committee Members: Dr. Erica Bennett, Dr. Sofia Noori
Chair: Dr. Janice Forsyth
Abstract: Our world is currently witnessing extraordinary levels of human displacement globally, with nearly 120 million individuals forced to flee their homes because of conflict, oppression, environment and violations of human rights. While leisure studies have emphasized the significance of leisure activities in the lives of immigrants and refugees in recent years, they have overlooked the deeper issues of nationalism, global capitalism, and xenophobia that influence refugee experiences, particularly women and girls (mothers and daughters). I employ a postcolonial feminist lens to explore socio-political issues in leisure settings with a particular emphasis on how these experiences exist at the crossroads of multiple identity categories (e.g., gender, race, class, and so on). This study is guided by three research questions: (1) How do racialized girls and women refugees (i.e., mothers and their daughters) interpret, experience and practice leisure? How have their understandings and practices of leisure changed (if at all) in relation to their migration to, and re-settlement in, Canada? (2) How does their leisure exist at the intersection of multiple identities such as race, gender, and ethnicity? (3) What strategies do racialized mother and daughter refugees use to negotiate these power relations to make meaningful and enriching leisure experiences? I will use semi-structured interviews with 15-25 racialized mother and daughter refugees living in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Additionally, I will invite a sample of interview participants (n=5-8) to take part in go-along interviews in which I accompany them in everyday spaces, while they share their broader experiences, feelings, and reflections in these spaces. By analyzing the findings through reflexive thematic analysis, this research aims to contribute to multiple disciplines, including leisure studies, sport sociology, and migration studies. The outcomes will offer valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders, helping to promote inclusive leisure opportunities that foster health, well-being, and flourishing among racialized women and girls refugees. Additionally, the study will advance Canadian society’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion by challenging dominant narratives about refugees and their experiences.