‘I hope like they talk with us like how they talk with Irish’: ‘difference’, discrimination and affective inequality in the lives of young Syrian refugees resettled in Ireland

ABSTRACT

Based on findings from qualitative research on the needs of young Syrian refugees resettled in Ireland, this article explores issues around relationships with peers from the receiving community in the context of perceived difference and inequality. Interviews with young people shed light on their hopes, fears and experiences around forming connections as they begin to navigate life in a new country, with further insights provided through interviews with youthwork professionals involved in supporting young refugees in the resettlement process. The findings evidence the eagerness of young refugees to forge relationships with peers in the host society but also what a difficult experience it can be for these young people to develop new friendships. This highlights the need for support for young refugees in navigating issues around difference and discrimination in the affective domain.

KEYWORDS:

• Refugee youth
• resettlement
• affective inequality
• friendship
• Syrian children

Acknowledgements

The research was commissioned by the Children’s Rights Alliance, Dublin. Our thanks to Azad Izzeddin for his assistance with the research and to all of the participants who took part in the study. We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Children’s Rights Alliance.