Page 95 - IJPS-11-6

International Journal of
Population Studies A Burmese woman’s migration and exclusion

Individual narratives are shaped by unique personal, We also acknowledge the support of the Bridge of Hope
cultural, and social contexts. organization and the local community partners who made
However, the use of triangulated methods, including this study possible.
focus groups and participant observation, helps Funding
contextualize Aye’s experience within broader patterns
among Burmese refugee women. Common challenges None.
identified across participants include unsafe housing, Conflict of interest
low-wage employment, cultural stigma, and caregiving
burdens. These shared struggles underscore the relevance, The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
though not the universal applicability, of Aye’s narrative.
Author contributions
Narrative inquiry values depth over breadth, prioritizing
the complex, situated ways in which individuals interpret Conceptualization: All authors
and respond to structural conditions. This study contributes Data curation: All authors
not definitive claims but a deep, embodied account that Formal analysis: Jue Wang
can inform more grounded understandings of integration Investigation: All authors
policy and gendered vulnerability. Methodology: All authors
Writing–original draft: Jue Wang
5. Conclusions Writing–review & editing: Lan Kolano
This study has illuminated how the migration journey Ethics approval and consent to participate
of a Burmese refugee woman, Aye, reflects the gendered
contours of exclusion and survival in the context of forced The study protocol was approved by the Institutional
migration and resettlement. Through an in-depth narrative Review Board of the University of North Carolina at
analysis, it reveals that access to education, employment, Charlotte (Approval ID: IRB-23-0623). Informed consent
legal protection, and healthcare is a more immediate was obtained before data collection, and pseudonyms were
and enduring concern for refugee women than symbolic employed to protect participant anonymity.
belonging or formal citizenship. Aye’s story underscores Consent for publication
how refugee women draw upon intergenerational legacies
of agency to navigate constrained environments, often The participant provided informed consent for their data
relying on relational and strategic decisions to maintain to be used in this study and published in anonymized
autonomy and sustain their families. form. Consent was obtained through both verbal and
written processes, during which the participant was
The findings challenge dominant models of integration informed about the purpose of the research, how the data
that emphasize emotional or cultural assimilation, would be used, and their right to withdraw at any time. The
advocating instead for a rights-based, access-oriented participant was also made aware that, although her identity
framework that centers material conditions and structural would remain confidential through the use of pseudonyms
inclusion. Aye’s experience shows that empowerment is and the removal of identifying details, her narratives and
neither linear nor guaranteed by legal status but emerges experiences might be quoted or described in published
through the ongoing negotiation of access under gendered, materials.
institutional, and social constraints.
While limited in scope, the study provides a rich, Availability of data
grounded account that contributes to understanding the Due to the sensitive nature of the data and the
lived realities of refugee women. It calls for integration confidentiality agreement with participants, the datasets
policies and support systems that recognize women’s generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not
practical needs and caregiving responsibilities and offer publicly available.
flexible, reliable pathways to self-determination. For
refugee women like Aye, integration is not only about References
being welcomed but also about being able to flourish. Burke, R. (2022). Reimagining language in higher education.
Opening up the University: Teaching and Learning with
Acknowledgments Refugees, 5:220-233.

We would like to thank the Burmese refugee community Burke, R., Baker, S., Hartley, L., & Field, R.S. (2023). What do we
members for sharing their experiences and insights. know about how women with forced migration experiences

Volume 11 Issue 6 (2025) 89 https://doi.org/10.36922/IJPS025160060