Browsing by Author "Worku, Hilawit"

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    Reintegration of Ethiopian Migrant Returnees: The Case of Forced Migrant Returnees from KSA
    (Addis Ababa University, 2017-07) Worku, Hilawit; Zenebe, Mulumebet (PhD)
    This study explores the gendered dimension of reintegration experiences of Ethiopian migrant returnees from Saudi Arabia in to their communities following the massive deportation in 2013. Qualitative method was employed; and unstructured in-depth interview with twelve returnees (six of each gender) and two key informants was conducted. A thematic analysis was done using collection of three analytical tools: The three interrelated dimensions of reintegration (economic, social, and psychosocial) by Ruben et.al (2009); the three stages of migration by Cassario (2004); and Gender analysis. The common view amongst interviewees in relation to economic reintegration was that it is influenced by reasons to migration, the sociopolitical environment at destination, the working and living conditions at destination, the physical, emotional, and sexual abuses returnees experienced. Social reintegration implied to be highly dependent on success of achieving migration purpose, conflict before migration, and opportunities to retain communication with home. Psychosocial reintegration discussed by returnees to be influenced by their experiences at destination depending factors influenced their migration motives, emotional and psychological health, and their identification of themselves as part of home community. Taken together, these results suggest that there is an association between reintegration experience and the domestic working environment, the Kafala system, and the Guardianship system women lived through in Saudi Arabia. These factors by limiting women movement and options of opportunities; increasing their vulnerability to abuse; and decreasing their chance of achieving migration goals, they influence their reintegration experience negatively. Together these results provide important insight on how migration is a gendered phenomenon; hence, a program attempting to reintegrate men and women passed through it, had to be a gender responsive. Moreover, experience of migrants before and during migration is found to have determining impact on their reintegration; therefore, by putting on a gender lens, a reintegration program planning and implementation has to explore experience of returnees throughout all stages of their migration. The study recommends for the reintegration program to look critically in to the factors identified in the study; and to employ a holistic approach (that considers all stages and dimensions of migration, and gender) for successful reintegration of both men and women returnees.