Resettlement Experiences of Burmese Refugee Women Living in Wellington

The resettlement experiences of Burmese women from refugee backgrounds living in Wellington are the focus of this research. Increasing numbers of people are being resettled worldwide, so it is important to consider how that resettlement process is being experienced. Burmese refugees are the largest group to arrive in New Zealand (NZ) since 2000, yet remain relatively unknown. This book explores subjective aspects of resettlement, such as how women feel about life in NZ, the kinds of difficulties faced in their resettlement and what could help to improve their sense of well-being in everyday life. My intention is to facilitate a collaborative process with a group of ten Burmese women using a qualitative approach that positions former refugees as active participants in their own resettlement. It is guided by a feminist methodology, recognizing the significance of women's experiences and the value of their knowledge arising from this. Specifically, I use the photovoice method, whereby the women use photography to record significant aspects of their lives as a vehicle through which we then explore resettlement.