Discourses of Childhood and Motherhood: A Comparative Study of Memories, Practices, and Experiences of Immigrant Mothers from Syria and Ukraine

Abstract

This research has been guided by the aim of understanding the perceptions of childhood and motherhood through immigrant mothers' voices and their experiences. Align with theoretical approaches of social constructionism, Foucauldian discourse theory, and social construction of childhood and motherhood, a qualitative research design has been adopted. Findings show that immigrants' perceptions and practices are connected to their distinct memories and particular sociocultural contexts. Their sociocultural contexts are affected by dynamic sociocultural factors that are related to discursive formations. Without understanding these discursive formations, it is difficult to understand immigrants' cultures. This research also has found that all immigrants don't perceive the things around them in the same way, but they often get generalized treatment from the professionals and the host society.

In the process of being a multicultural society, the narrations of immigrants and their agency are particularly important. Immigrants in exile come from different cultural backgrounds with different memories and distinct perceptions including collectivity. There are distinct sociocultural factors in a society that affect immigrants in different grades. By discovering these carefully from a discursive framework, immigrants can be understood better. Norwegian authorities and professionals who work with immigrants also should take these under consideration by avoiding a generalization mentality.

Refugee is neither a crisis nor only a homogenous identity. Refugees are human beings with their unique life experiences.