Decolonial and intersectional feminist psychology for the future of (forced) migration and refugee resettlement

Abstract

Forced human migration will be a defining feature of the 21st century, and psychologists have unique opportunities to impact migration policies, processes, and practices. The purpose of the current article is to provide insights into the forced migration process and explicate theoretical perspectives that those engaged in supporting resettlement processes, including psychologists, should consider. We specifically emphasize the value of decolonial and intersectional feminist perspectives in rethinking and reinventing what migration and resettlement can look like in the 21st century. Decolonial analysis of the contemporary refugee resettlement process and the experiences of specific refugee communities sheds light on how historical inequities and beliefs about human worth and knowledge continue to create harm and precarity for migrants. Additionally, feminist perspectives provide an intersectional and relational lens to understand refugees’ lived experiences and support the development of more just and inclusive policies and practices. We begin with an overview of who refugees and migrants are, as well as the contemporary resettlement process and its limitations from a socio-psychological perspective. We then explain decolonial and feminist psychological perspectives, and the benefits they can provide to deepening understanding of refugee experiences and practical implications to build culturally sensitive resettlement programs. Next, we explain frameworks guiding refugee resettlement and migrant integration, through the lens of decolonial and feminist psychology. Finally, we provide recommendations informed by existing research and theory to promote a more just resettlement and integration process.