Generational Differences Faced by Sudanese Refugee Women Settling in Australia

Abstract

Although a significant number of Sudanese refugees have migrated to Australia over the past decade, little research has been conducted to identify the experiences and problems they face while settling into a culture significantly different from their home culture. This exploratory study investigated the adaptation and acculturation experiences of 28 women from the Sudanese refugee community and explored a range of issues relating to intergenerational communication since their arrival in Australia. Most participants expressed the following as issues of concern: (a) disciplining and raising children in Australia, (b) relationships with teenage children, and (c) the influence of Sudanese culture on their child rearing practices. The following two key theoretical constructs have been identified for their potential relevance to our findings and future research on this topic: (a) Hofstede's cultural dimensions, and (b) the acculturation process.