Browsing by Author "Goitom, Mary"
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Item Open Access Becoming Habesha: the journey of second-generation Ethiopian and Eritrean youth in Canada(2012) Goitom, Mary; Ismael, Jacqueline S.Refugee, Diaspora and Transnationalism scholarships have produced understandings of complex processes that migrant communities undergo to adapt to their new homes and maintain ties to their homeland. A review of the literature revealed a gap in critical analysis of how second-generation immigrants create meaning, make decisions, form communities and build their lives. This study explored the acculturative process of second generation Ethiopian and Eritrean youths and the ways they self-locate and produce spaces that are their own. Taking into account that second-generation Ethiopians and Eritreans identities are formed in 'hybridity', this study-using grounded theory methodology-explored six interrelated queries: (I) how do they define themselves; (2) what does it mean to be Ethiopian/Eritrean; (3) in the context of a multicultural society how has race, nativity, ethnicity, gender, and class informed their identity formation and retention; ( 4) how does the nature of their identity differ and/or is similar to their parents; (5) what is the nature of their knowledge and/or interests in their heritage and parental homeland; and, (6) if in their view there are differences and similarities between Ethiopian and Eritrean definitions of self Analysis of 20 in-depth interviews presented three analytic categories: pathways of acculturation where first generation parents parlay their acculturation process onto their children thus influencing their self-identity trajectories and repertoires in their formative years; influence of multiculturalism on the acculturation of these children and lastly the impact of these two processes led second-generation youths to identify as 'Habesha'. These frameworks reveal how intentionality and secondary socialization intervene on intergenerational cultural continuity to transform the youths to reject ethnocentricity yet yearn for native country affiliation. Findings reinforce the salience of social work education and research on education, cultural competence and social diversity grounded in anti-oppressive practice and informed by strengths-based conceptual framework.Item Open Access Voices of women: the experiences of women survivors with obstetric fistula in Ethiopia(2008) Goitom, Mary; Ismael, Jacqueline S.Obstructed fistula is the result of complications experienced during childbirth that "'creates a continuous and uncontrollable stream of urine and/or feces coming from the birth canal and a strong and socially embarrassing smell"(Osika, Walker & Sagna, 2004, p. 1 ). Due to the nature of the problem, the medical profession has conducted most of the research in this area. However a significant limitation of their approach has been their inability to provide insight into the experiences and perceptions of the women who are directly impacted by this condition. This is important because medical interventions alone does not 'cure' fistula, for the non-medical determinants of health (e.g., poverty, education, socioeconomic status) need to be examined in order to change policy and advocate holistically for the human rights of these women. As such, the purpose of this phenomenological case study was to understand the non-medical determinants of obstructed fistula, from the perspective of the women survivors in Ethiopia. Additionally, this study also examined the role that indigenous social work practitioners can play in addressing this condition. The sample for this study was drawn from the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia using criterion sampling and maximum variation. Through the use of semi-structured individual interviews using both open-ended and close-ended questions, eight women were interviewed. Data collection, analysis, and coding were conducted simultaneously in order to capture emerging themes accurately. Complex analysis of the participants narratives indicated that participants are aware of the social determinants that leads to obstructed fistula. Other findings included how chronic conditions can erode existing community coping mechanisms leading to women's experiences of social ostracism.