Articulating Syrian women refugees’ education in an age of uncertainty

Abstract

Political conflicts propelled a wave of refugees that are seen as a force that threatens the stability of the UK and Western Europe. It has left many refugees bewildered and vulnerable in a transition to a new land, which may or may not cater to their cultural, religious, ethnic, and social needs. This paper examines the role of adult education in the lives of Syrian women and education’s ability to bridge the gap between cultures. We posit that education serves as a tool of self-expression and integration for Syrian women refugees in their adopted communities. Using a feminist life history method, the stories of three Syrian women will be discussed. In doing so, we revisit the definition of ‘refugees’ and ‘immigrants’ as posited by various scholars to shed light on the crisis and how it has risen from a counter-terrorism strategy in the UK and reveal the implications that this has had over the past years on the British education system.