What participatory photography can tell us about immigrant and refugee women’s learning in Atlantic Canada

Abstract

Migration is a gendered phenomenon, embedded within patriarchal structures and social relations that extend beyond State borders. We draw on a transnational feminist framework to explore the gendered dimensions of young refugee and immigrant women’s migration and learning experiences. Ten women were involved in a participatory photography research project over a period of two years in which they took and shared photographs, and engaged in storytelling and self-reflection through writing and dialogue. Through the photo-stories, the women demonstrate the plurality of refugees’ and immigrants’ stories and how these contribute to the larger social analysis of what it is to be an immigrant or refugee woman in Atlantic Canada. We focus this paper on three key themes: (1) formal and informal learning experiences; (2) the essential role relationships play in the women’s migration experiences; and (3) the importance of reflecting on and embracing life’s journeys.

Keywords:

• Women
• immigrant
• refugee
• participatory photography
• transnational feminism
• adult education
• lifelong learning