Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
2-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Program
Psychology
Advisor
Deborah Tolman
Committee Members
Michelle Fine
Anahi Viladrich
Rosa Cho
Peter Coleman
Subject Categories
Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Psychology
Keywords
Vietnamese refugee, mothering, resistance
Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to learn how refugee mothers adapt to hierarchical systems of oppression with agency and resistance. Global refugee forums and decades of past research on refugees have identified the importance of increasing agency to best support refugees as they resettle. Previous research by the author has demonstrated that refugee mothers model resistance to oppressive systems which has implications for children who witness this resistance. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 Vietnamese refugee mothers to explore their mothering practices, how they adapted given the socio-political forces shaping their lives, and how these adaptations reverberated through younger generations. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted on the qualitative data. Results showed that mothers are under pressure to mother in ways that reproduce oppressive system dynamics. Elements that served as possible areas of support or barriers to their abilities to adapt with agency and resistance were identified. Throughout the findings, patterns of dis/connection were identified and revealed that mothers absorbed, transformed, and created new configurations of cultural practices in ways that supported their own agency as well as aimed at securing the survival of their children.
Recommended Citation
Nguyen-Nalpas, Kim Khanh, "Tracing Reverberations: Vietnamese Refugee Mothers' Adaptations to Complex Structural Forces and Intergenerational Engagements" (2025). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/6104
