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" Understanding the Transportation Experiences of Refugees: A Case Study of Iraqi and Syrian Refugees in Erie County, NY "
Okour, Yasmein Fahmi Mahmoud
Rajkovich, Nicholas B.
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Latin Dissertation
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| Language of Document
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English
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| Record Number
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1051050
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TL50167
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| Main Entry
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Okour, Yasmein Fahmi Mahmoud
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| Title & Author
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Understanding the Transportation Experiences of Refugees: A Case Study of Iraqi and Syrian Refugees in Erie County, NY\ Okour, Yasmein Fahmi MahmoudRajkovich, Nicholas B.
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| College
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State University of New York at Buffalo
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| Date
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2019
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| Degree
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Ph.D.
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2019
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| Note
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257 p.
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| Abstract
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Access to opportunities for disadvantaged populations is a critical function of equity planning. Studies that examine accessibility from a social justice viewpoint are mainly concerned with disparities in the distribution of resources and their impact on individuals’ quality of life. This is especially important in areas like Erie County, New York, where refugee resettlement is concentrated in opportunity-poor neighborhoods that face persistent disinvestment and decline. Transportation is critical for the successful resettlement of refugees and their access to vital resources and opportunities. However, refugee research has highlighted transportation as a significant area of struggle. Despite its importance, r¬efugee transportation and their equity concerns remain significantly understudied. This dissertation addresses the gap in knowledge by examining the transportation experiences of Iraqi and Syrian refugees in Erie County, NY. The research examines three questions: 1) How are Iraqi and Syrian refugees in Erie County, NY using public and private transportation to access services and opportunities? 2) How are Iraqi and Syrian refugees leveraging and creating community based-resources to address their transportation needs? And 3) How are service providers addressing the equity and transportation concerns faced by refugees? An exploratory qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection method was employed. Interviews were conducted with two primary participant groups; Iraqi and Syrian refugees and service providers. Participants were recruited using the snowball sampling method. Participant observation in a local resettlement agency and secondary data were also utilized. The qualitative analysis software NVivo was used for coding and qualitative data analysis. Moreover, to empower and facilitate the participation of refugees in research processes, three refugee women who acted as informants of the refugee experience provided critical feedback on interview protocols and emerging findings. The results of this study indicate: 1) Service providers lack a comprehensive understanding of the transportation challenges of Iraqi and Syrian refugees; 2) Perception of refugee experiences as temporary and individual reproduce the inequities refugees face; 3) Refugee resettlement in impoverished and opportunity-poor neighborhoods under the assumption of available ethnic support contributes to refugees’ state of inaccessibility and perceived segregation; 4) Self-sufficiency approaches to refugee resettlement is a challenge to addressing the transportation disadvantages and equity concerns of refugees; 5) Limited representation of refugee voices in decision-making processes undermines refugee service provision and transportation equity. The knowledge generated contributes to current literature on transportation for marginalized populations, provides new perspectives on the limitations of current refugee resettlement practices, and offers crucial insights on transportation equity for refugee populations. Specifically, the findings point to the importance of advancing an equity agenda in refugee service provision to achieve socially just outcomes for refugees. This includes acknowledging the limitations inherent within resettlement policies, understanding the varying needs of refugee groups, fostering collaborative practices between service providers, and amplifying refugee participation and representation in decision-making.
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| Descriptor
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Ethnic studies
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Transportation
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Urban planning
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Rajkovich, Nicholas B.
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State University of New York at Buffalo
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