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Liminal Communitas: a case study of Somali refugee women in Kenya

Andersson, Jennie LU (2013) UTVK02 20131
Department of Human Geography
Abstract
This thesis demonstrates the applicability of the concept of liminality in migration and refugee research, particularly on the empirical example of a community of Somali refugee women in an urban outskirt in Kenya. Originally an anthropological concept, “liminality” refers to an in-between period of uncertainty, a transitional phase in which people are equal and a sense of community trumps differences. The concept lends itself to processes of unfolding social drama, and in this case it is the urban refugee community that is the center stage. The argument is that, in combination with a gendered transnational approach to migration, liminality is useful to deepen the understanding of the refugee community, and on a broader level, human... (More)
This thesis demonstrates the applicability of the concept of liminality in migration and refugee research, particularly on the empirical example of a community of Somali refugee women in an urban outskirt in Kenya. Originally an anthropological concept, “liminality” refers to an in-between period of uncertainty, a transitional phase in which people are equal and a sense of community trumps differences. The concept lends itself to processes of unfolding social drama, and in this case it is the urban refugee community that is the center stage. The argument is that, in combination with a gendered transnational approach to migration, liminality is useful to deepen the understanding of the refugee community, and on a broader level, human experience. The conclusion is that using the analytical concept of “liminality” in refugee research does not rule out space for human agency, as is demonstrated in the example of the Somali refugee women. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Andersson, Jennie LU
supervisor
organization
course
UTVK02 20131
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Liminality, refugees, migration theory, development, transnationalism
language
English
id
4001510
date added to LUP
2016-08-25 13:29:51
date last changed
2016-08-25 13:29:51
@misc{4001510,
  abstract     = {{This thesis demonstrates the applicability of the concept of liminality in migration and refugee research, particularly on the empirical example of a community of Somali refugee women in an urban outskirt in Kenya. Originally an anthropological concept, “liminality” refers to an in-between period of uncertainty, a transitional phase in which people are equal and a sense of community trumps differences. The concept lends itself to processes of unfolding social drama, and in this case it is the urban refugee community that is the center stage. The argument is that, in combination with a gendered transnational approach to migration, liminality is useful to deepen the understanding of the refugee community, and on a broader level, human experience. The conclusion is that using the analytical concept of “liminality” in refugee research does not rule out space for human agency, as is demonstrated in the example of the Somali refugee women.}},
  author       = {{Andersson, Jennie}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Liminal Communitas: a case study of Somali refugee women in Kenya}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}