Cultural Dislocation Research Articles

Raised by White People. Conceptualisations of ‘Culture’ in the Foster Placement of African Minority Youth in Norway

AbstractThis paper examines the intricate dynamics of transethnic foster placement in Norway, focusing on African minority youth and how ‘culture’ and ‘identity’ is conceptualised within this context. Through semi-structured interviews, the study builds on the lived experiences of a set of 15 families (including 60 children), alongside insights from fostered individuals, foster parents, and a placement official. The discussion delves into the profound effects of cultural dislocation and identity crisis experienced by minority youth, problematising how foster placement often leads to adverse life trajectories, including issues with uprootedness, substance abuse, psychiatric illness, and loss of ethnic identity. At the core of the discussion is the contention that while the child protection system in Norway is mandated to safeguard children, it inadvertently neglects the cultural rights and identity development of African minority youth. Employing insight from Franz Fanon and Jean-Paul Sartre to articulate the psychological impact and moral implications of such transethnic placements, the paper argues for re-evaluating assimilation practices and cultural rights within the child protection framework, highlighting the need for a culturally sensitive and rights-based approach to foster care. This research contributes to the broader discourse on human rights and social work, emphasising the ethical and legal dimensions of fostering minority children.

Navigating transitions: Vietnamese students’ experiences and challenges in the first year of higher education

ABSTRACT This qualitative research delves into the intricate transitional experiences of Vietnamese students during their first year in higher education (HE). Grounded in the dynamically shifting socio-cultural landscape of Vietnam, the study captures the narratives of 15 students, emphasising the unique challenges faced by those from the Mekong Delta region. Utilising a robust analytical blend of sociocultural theory, transition theory, and constructivist grounded theory, the research surfaces seven poignant themes. These are: (1) ‘Cultural Dislocation’, capturing the tension between traditional values and modern, global influences; (2) the ‘Struggle with Academic Independence’ highlighting the challenges of autonomous learning; (3) the intricacies of navigating ‘Interpersonal Dynamics in Diversity’ in a multicultural academic environment; (4) the evident ‘Digital Divide’ accentuating the disparities in technological access and proficiency; (5) the delicate act of ‘Balancing Commitments’ between academic pursuits and deeply rooted familial responsibilities; and (6) the profound ‘Quest for Autonomy and Identity Formation’, signifying the transformative nature of HE as a space for profound self-discovery and personal growth. While offering specific insights into the Vietnamese context, the study resonates with global academic transitions, underscoring the urgent need for holistic educational approaches that address the diverse challenges and aspirations of contemporary students.

The Mother Complex in Dambudzo Marechera’s Life and Works

Abstract Dambudzo Marechera, an iconic figure in Zimbabwean literature, is often celebrated for his avant-garde and confrontational literary style. His works, which reflect a tumultuous life marked by personal and political strife, also reveal a complex relationship with women. His upbringing in the slums of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) exposed him to poverty, violence, and racial tensions. Marechera’s mother, Masvotwa Venezia Marechera, was a maid, and he often depicted her in the context of Rhodesian violence and prostitution. His strained relationship with his family, especially his mother, is apparent in his works and biographical information on him. His relationship with his mother seems to have contributed to his ambivalent portrayal and understanding of women. This fraught connection with his mother hints at a mother complex, a psychological concept which describes a son’s emotional attachment and conflict with his mother. This study delves into the ‘Mother Complex’ as a recurring motif in Marechera’s narratives, examining how it shapes his life, characters, and themes. Drawing from Marechera’s own experiences and his relationship as reflected in his writings and Wild-Veit’s memoir, They Called You Dambudzo, this analysis explores the psychological and symbolic dimensions of the mother archetype as reflected in his literature and life. The discussion highlights how Marechera’s portrayal of motherhood—ranging from nurturing to oppressive—mirrors his ambivalent attitude towards maternal authority and the traditional roles assigned to women in society. Marechera conceives female characters as more than mere muses; they represent different facets of femininity and cultural identity. They evoke vulnerability and agency. The discussion considers the broader socio-cultural context of post-colonial Zimbabwe, where the mother figure often embodies the nation’s collective history and trauma. Marechera’s complex representation of motherhood and women serves as a critique of oppressive structures and a quest for agency amidst cultural dislocation.

Dreamscapes of Belonging : Draft, based on the presentation at the IAJS Conference 2023, work in progress

Jungian Art-Based Research (JABR) is a distinctive methodological framework that explores the intersection of analytical psychology and the arts. It primarily utilizes Jung's theories of the psyche, integrating these with artistic processes to investigate and express unconscious dynamics. Susan Rowland, a pivotal figure in this field, has significantly advanced the understanding of how Jungian theories can be applied within art-based research (Rowland, 2023). Her contributions elucidate how artistic expressions act as mediums through which the unconscious can be explored and articulated, thereby offering profound insights into both individual and collective unconscious processes. The objectives of Jungian Art-Based Research are manifold. Firstly, JABR aims to provide a methodological approach that allows researchers and practitioners to delve deeper into the symbolic and transformative potential of art. This is achieved through the engagement of the unconscious in the creation and interpretation of art, thereby fostering a holistic understanding of the psyche. Secondly, JABR seeks to expand the scope of psychological inquiry by incorporating artistic expressions as legitimate sources of psychological data. Lastly, it aspires to foster a dialogue between psychology and art, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration that can enrich both fields. By integrating analytical psychology with artistic creativity, JABR contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the human experience, offering valuable perspectives that challenge conventional research paradigms. This paper presents a personal journey through the application of Jungian Art-Based Research (JABR), initiated by attending a course by Susan Rowlands. It delves into the transformative experience of exploring the multiverse of dreams and their impact on the author's professional and personal development. The exploration began with the author’s repetitive dreams, characterized by detailed urban landscapes, serving as the primary material for research. By physically mapping these dreamscapes and integrating various symbolic materials, the author engaged in a deep, introspective process, highlighting the non-linear and spiraling nature of JABR. This journey further intertwined with reflections on identity, homelessness, and the longing for a sense of belonging, amplified by historical and cultural dislocations. Through spontaneous dance and subsequent reflections, the author confronts the disillusionment with idealized spaces and faces the reality of changing perspectives and attachments. The paper concludes by pondering the broader implications of our attachment to the Earth, suggesting that our efforts to save it might be hindered by our need to name and possess, rather than embrace its intrinsic, unnamed existence. Through a Jungian lens, the author proposes a reevaluation of our relationship with the planet, advocating for a detachment from specific names to foster a more universal and sustainable connection.

Dreamscapes of Belonging

Jungian Art-Based Research (JABR) is a distinctive methodological framework that explores the intersection of analytical psychology and the arts. It primarily utilizes Jung's theories of the psyche, integrating these with artistic processes to investigate and express unconscious dynamics. Susan Rowland, a pivotal figure in this field, has significantly advanced the understanding of how Jungian theories can be applied within art-based research (Rowland, 2023). Her contributions elucidate how artistic expressions act as mediums through which the unconscious can be explored and articulated, thereby offering profound insights into both individual and collective unconscious processes. The objectives of Jungian Art-Based Research are manifold. Firstly, JABR aims to provide a methodological approach that allows researchers and practitioners to delve deeper into the symbolic and transformative potential of art. This is achieved through the engagement of the unconscious in the creation and interpretation of art, thereby fostering a holistic understanding of the psyche. Secondly, JABR seeks to expand the scope of psychological inquiry by incorporating artistic expressions as legitimate sources of psychological data. Lastly, it aspires to foster a dialogue between psychology and art, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration that can enrich both fields. By integrating analytical psychology with artistic creativity, JABR contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the human experience, offering valuable perspectives that challenge conventional research paradigms. This paper presents a personal journey through the application of Jungian Art-Based Research (JABR), initiated by attending a course by Susan Rowlands. It delves into the transformative experience of exploring the multiverse of dreams and their impact on the author's professional and personal development. The exploration began with the author’s repetitive dreams, characterized by detailed urban landscapes, serving as the primary material for research. By physically mapping these dreamscapes and integrating various symbolic materials, the author engaged in a deep, introspective process, highlighting the non-linear and spiraling nature of JABR. This journey further intertwined with reflections on identity, homelessness, and the longing for a sense of belonging, amplified by historical and cultural dislocations. Through spontaneous dance and subsequent reflections, the author confronts the disillusionment with idealized spaces and faces the reality of changing perspectives and attachments. The paper concludes by pondering the broader implications of our attachment to the Earth, suggesting that our efforts to save it might be hindered by our need to name and possess, rather than embrace its intrinsic, unnamed existence. Through a Jungian lens, the author proposes a reevaluation of our relationship with the planet, advocating for a detachment from specific names to foster a more universal and sustainable connection.

Dreamscapes of Belonging

This paper presents a personal journey through the application of Jungian Art-Based Research (JABR), initiated by attending a course by Susan Rowlands. It delves into the transformative experience of exploring the multiverse of dreams and their impact on the author's professional and personal development. The exploration began with the author’s repetitive dreams, characterized by detailed urban landscapes, serving as the primary material for research. By physically mapping these dreamscapes and integrating various symbolic materials, the author engaged in a deep, introspective process, highlighting the non-linear and spiraling nature of JABR. This journey further intertwined with reflections on identity, homelessness, and the longing for a sense of belonging, amplified by historical and cultural dislocations. Through spontaneous dance and subsequent reflections, the author confronts the disillusionment with idealized spaces and faces the reality of changing perspectives and attachments. The paper concludes by pondering the broader implications of our attachment to the Earth, suggesting that our efforts to save it might be hindered by our need to name and possess, rather than embrace its intrinsic, unnamed existence. Through a Jungian lens, the author proposes a reevaluation of our relationship with the planet, advocating for a detachment from specific names to foster a more universal and sustainable connection.

A Study on Cultural Identity in Monica Ali's Novels

This paper endeavours to analyse the impact of cultural collision and cultural reorientation in Monica Ali’s Brick Lane, which is packed with themes of cultural dislocation, displacement, change and continuity, strangeness and familiarity encountered by characters living in a complex and multicultural world. Interestingly, postcolonial society witnessed an upsurge of cross cultural fertilization of societies, which resulted in untold miseries of the people. Diaspora not only connotes demographic dislocations, but also cultural reorientation as the foreign culture impinges upon the native culture.

Kritik Sosial Natsume Soseki dalam Novel Bocchan

This research aims to reveal Natsume Soseki's attitudes and views in the form of social criticism regarding the phenomenon of social deviation in Japanese society due to the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912) in his novel, Bocchan. Social problems often arise in modern societies, including what happened in Japan during modernization from 1868-1912, called the Meiji Restoration. These social problems include social and cultural dislocation due to the penetration of dominant Western culture and the marginal position of traditional elements, especially in the second decade of the early Meiji era, when Japan aggressively adopted Western culture on a large scale. This social phenomenon can be seen from the decline in Japanese society's appreciation for traditional social and cultural values while simultaneously placing Western culture in a superior position. The theory used in this research is Alan Swingewood's Literary Sociology theory. Through this theory, we will analyze the influence of Natsume Soseki's social background as the author of the novel Bocchan, as well as his ideological tendencies in responding to the symptoms of social deviation in Japanese society (1868-1912), which became the background for the creation of the novel Bocchan. After that, it will be analyzed to what extent the novel Bocchan can reflect social phenomena. The analysis was done by connecting the social aspects of the novel with the historical, social reality that was the background for its creation, namely Japanese society during the Meiji Era (1868-1912). Next, the author will see what social criticism is depicted in the novel. The results of the research show that the novel Bocchan describes Natsume Soseki's social criticism of the phenomenon of socio-cultural dislocation in Japanese society due to Westernization during the Meiji era, as well as the problems of a group of people who persist with old habits in the condition of the Japanese nation which is changing towards a developed and modern country.

Loss, Language, and Latina Identity in Julia Alvarez s How The García Girls Lost Their Accents

This article analyses the articulations and effects of cultural dislocation and trauma on the sisters’ construction of their female cultural identity in Julia Alvarez’s How The García Girls Lost Their Accents. This paper focuses primarily on Alvarez’s Sandra and Yolanda, those sisters whose sense of cultural dislocation and its consequences are arguably the most pronounced within the novel. Exploring the text’s concern with the disavowal of cultural heritage, a return to cultural practices and ways of life, and the sisters’ attempts to cope with extreme physical and psychological violence, this article seeks to examine how the women negotiate their unstable or fractured identities and demonstrate how, through the use of thematic and formal properties, the novel imagines routes toward healing, resistance, and reconciliation with the self.

Relocating Oneself Beyond Barriers

South-Asian diasporic authors write out of their specific cultural, individual and collective needs that relate to their experiences of racism, ethnic discrimination and sexism in the new space. The task at hand is to re-structure and re-constitute alien paradigms to suit the spaces inhabited by the immigrant. Immigrant writing involves a powerful “presencing” of source and host cultures. There are indeed variations within the immigrant groups in terms of the degree of retention of ethnic cultural values, the behavioural patterns and the degree of accommodation arrived at with the demands of the host culture. These various facets of immigrant experience, that are thrown into focus as a result of cross-cultural encounter, point to the shared experiences of the immigrant communities, which constitute the ethos of the diaspora. Diaspora is an important conceptual tool because it highlights the multiple standpoints borne of migration and displacement. It illuminates an ambivalent politics of positioning and being positioned, of identification and being identified.In her debut collection of short stories Interpreter of Maladies, also called, “stories of Bengal, Boston and Beyond”, Jhumpa Lahiri probes deeply into the maladies of cultural dislocation and the consequential emotional trauma. This paper analyses four short stories titled “A Temporary Matter”, “The Third and Final Continent”, “Mrs. Sen’s” and “Interpreter of Maladies” in the anthology and attempts to trace how the immigrants who vacillate between two cultures overcome the identity crisis they face.

Y. TAWADA’S WORKS IN MULTICULTURAL CONTEXT

The present paper investigates the stylistic and philosophical-aesthetic features in the works written by Y. Tawada, a contemporary Japanese-German author. The unique position occupied by the author in the literary space leads us to consider her works in the context of multicultural and postcolonial theories. Being stuck between two opposite cultural paradigms and literary traditions — Eastern and Western European — the writer does not fit into either of them. Such a unique position impacts on the author’s view on the problems typical for multicultural literature, such as search for identity, creation of one’s own self in a polyphonic globalized world, cultural dislocation and homelessness experience. In our article particular attention is paid to studying the image of a multicultural writer who is situated at a cultural crossroads and is a nomad in a broadest sense. As a result of the research, it has been found out that development of a new identity takes place in the so-called third or “interstitial space”, where two opposing worldviews meet. Linguistic experiments and unique attitude to universal language codes as a means of intercultural communication are dominant in the author’s writing style. The author is in search of her lost identity. These searches are associated with the searches of the protagonists who suffer from a traumatic experience and go through the loss of their own roots. In the works under analysis the influence of the Japanese literary tradition can be traced. Y. Tawada turns to the genre of monogatari, typical for Eastern literature. In general, the poetic features of the author’s prose are illustrated through examples from the works “Where Europe Begins”, “Suspects on the Night Train” and “Memoirs of a Polar Bear”.

Between the Borders of Life and Art: Roman Polanski’s Transgressive Negotiations

Roman Polanski’s films are noted for their subversive psychological style that explores themes of sexuality, desire, alienation, and violence. His narratives often reflect a dark sense of humour through which the director perceives the absurdity of the human condition in relation to his own cultural dislocations and artistic eccentricity. This article investigates how different connotations of transgression play a major role in defining Roman Polanski as a filmmaker. It specifically explores how the polysemy of transgression structures Polanski as an artist whose real and cinematic negotiations are often intertwined. Through the constant subversion of moral, cultural, and social discourses, his visual style and narrative ideology maintain a notorious affinity that disturbs the notion of reality and manipulates it with new narrative texts. It is the idea of transgression that changes the way Polanski’s auteur status is perceived, appreciated, and rejected for his actions and creations in the past and their repercussions in the present. Polanski’s works use historical, social, and personal realities to renegotiate his transgressive image in real life by incorporating his contested victim status and persecuted selfhood in narratives that manipulate both the past and present.

Exploring the Interplay of Memory and Guilt: A Critical Examination of Ishiguro’s A Pale View of Hills

A Pale View of Hills stands as a testament to the literary prowess of Kazuo Ishiguro. As his debut novel, it received widespread acclaim, showcasing his distinctive narrative style, masterful craftsmanship, and intricate character development. The book captures the attention of its readers through an interplay of nostalgia, cultural complexities, and individual memories. The almost unanimously positive reviews it garnered after its release underlines the undeniable narrative dexterity of Ishiguro and his ability to handle deep-rooted emotions with finesse. Set against the backdrop of England during the early 1980s, the novel delves into the life of Etsuko, a Japanese woman in the autumn of her years, now residing in England. Etsuko’s existence, marked by solitude and introspection, forms the crux of the story, and her interactions serve as windows into her soul, revealing layers of her personality, cultural dislocation, and past traumas. The narrative primarily revolves around a poignant discussion between Etsuko and her younger daughter, Niki. Notably, the name ‘Niki’ itself emanates from a cultural compromise between her parents, underscoring the amalgamation of two worlds in her identity. This meeting isn’t merely a casual mother-daughter interaction but triggers a cascade of memories for Etsuko. Etsuko finds herself transported to the era shortly after the harrowing bombing of Nagasaki. During that time, she shared her life with her first husband, a Japanese man named Jero. These reflections, prompted by Niki’s visit, allow the readers to journey through Etsuko’s past, gaining insights into her experiences, struggles, and choices in post-war Japan. Throughout the novel, Ishiguro adeptly weaves a tapestry of memories and present moments, blurring the lines between reality and perception. By embedding touching and, at times, enigmatic twists, especially towards the culmination, Ishiguro not only engages the readers but also prompts them to ruminate on the deeper nuances of memory, identity, and cultural displacement. This work stands as a nuanced exploration of personal histories intertwined with broader historical and cultural narratives.

An Exploratory Study on the Adjustment Experiences of Refugees Living in South Korea: Focusing on a positive perspective

Although there has been a global rise in the number of refugees forcibly displaced from their homes, much of what we know about the refugee adjustment are based on those who resettle in neighboring nations or in the West. Little is known about how refugees and asylum seekers fare as they seek safety and new opportunities in an ethnically homogeneous East Asian context. In 2012, South Korea became one of the first Asian nations to pass a legislation to provide legal basis for protecting refugee rights and protocols for resettlement assistance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the narratives of adjustment of international refugees living in Korea and to draw meaningful insights from their experiences. We conducted in-depth interviews with five international refugees with at least five years of residency in Korea and had obtained legal recognition as a refugee. The interviews were analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 2009). The results showed four primary themes underlying the adjustment experiences narrated by international refugees: 1) Warriors fighting for survival and faith, 2) Wounds of loss and difference, 3) Unfolding new life and opportunities, and 4) Life beyond the refugee status. The international refugees’ narratives reflected their determination to resist political persecution in their homeland, their willingness to undertake an arduous process to gain recognition as refugees in South Korea, their sense of cultural dislocation, and their appreciation for new opportunities in Korea beyond basic survival.

Arjun: A creative exploration of worldbuilding to discuss cultural dislocation and belonging

This article will discuss concepts of cultural dislocation and belonging through a practice-led worldbuilding design project called Arjun. Arjun is a creative exploration of storytelling through a designed publication that uses diagrams, notations, and photographic manipulations to explore a character’s experience in a foreign land. The publication presents a polyphonic story from the perspective of Arjun who is hired by the fictional corporation Federation (F.E.D.R) to explore a land where both familiar and unfamiliar takes place. Arjun searches for his sense of purpose and identity, in a self-dialogue with his own dislocation. Established within the tenants of Hinduism, this research project stimulates speculative meanings through worldbuilding design as means to discuss my cultural dislocation with my own Fijian Indian ancestry. Conceptually, the project is concerned with the philosophical principles of Hindu reincarnation, its relationships to the subconscious mind (Callander & Cummings, 2021) and liminality (Turner, 1969; Ipomoea, 2015). The article will discuss how practice emerged both conceptually and visually through a synthesis between theory and making in its creation and conceptualisation. Reflective processes and self-search methodologies are utilised to access personal experiences and prominent levels of exploration with materials through the methods of notation, journaling, copywriting, image processing and prototyping.

Postcolonialism Goes Queer: Concealments and Disclosures in Dinaw Mengestu’s All Our Names

Abstract: This article discusses All Our Names , the 2014 novel by Dinaw Mengestu, an Ethiopian-born, American immigrant writer. The narrative focuses on two figures: a young Ethiopian dreamer caught in the postcolonial military struggle in Uganda who later seeks safe haven in the US, and a single white American woman in her early thirties named Helen, a social worker at Lutheran Relief Services. Such a configuration certainly suggests the relevance of the postcolonial perspective, but in the novel, issues of race and postcolonialism are intertwined with the identity crisis aggravated by the ethnically polarized world of small-town America. Yet the identity that is destabilized is not merely racial but also sexual, through the convoluted and illicit erotic relationships in which the characters are enmeshed. This article analyzes the concealments of sexual identities and the struggles of the characters, who are reluctant to disclose their selves and the true nature of their relations with each other, first in the context of cultural dislocation engendered by involuntary migration to the United States, and then in the postcolonial setting of war-torn Uganda

The Influence of Legal Status on Mental Health Outcomes for Immigrants

The study aimed to explore the influence of legal status on mental health outcomes among immigrants, seeking to identify the main themes that characterize the interplay between legal precarity and psychological well-being. This qualitative research employed semi-structured interviews with 28 participants, representing a diverse array of legal statuses, national origins, and experiences. The study focused on capturing the depth and complexity of immigrants' experiences related to their legal status and its impact on their mental health. Thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the data, with a focus on achieving theoretical saturation to ensure the comprehensiveness of the identified themes. Five main themes were identified: Legal Uncertainty, Socioeconomic Impact, Cultural and Identity Challenges, Psychological Well-being, and System Navigation. Each theme comprised various categories and concepts, such as Stress and Anxiety, Employment Challenges, Cultural Dislocation, Trauma and PTSD, and Legal System Navigation, highlighting the multifaceted impact of legal status on mental health. Participants reported significant stress and anxiety due to fears of deportation, employment insecurity, cultural and identity struggles, and challenges in accessing health care and legal services, all of which contribute to adverse mental health outcomes. The study concludes that the legal status of immigrants is a critical determinant of their mental health outcomes, with legal precarity exacerbating stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. These findings underscore the need for policy reforms, targeted mental health services, and supportive interventions that address the unique challenges faced by immigrants. By understanding and mitigating the impacts of legal uncertainty and socioeconomic, cultural, and systemic barriers, it is possible to improve the mental health and well-being of immigrant populations.

(Re)fashioning the Tribal Self-image: Reading Contemporary Tribal Writings from India in Translation

Tribal voices are perennially absent in the domains of disciplinary knowledges. Contemporary indigenous writings from different parts of the world contest this archival and textual invisibility of the indigenous subject by documenting the unremitting pain and anguish these communities undergo due to systematic territorial displacement and cultural dislocations. Literary narratives originating within these indigenous communities transcend paradigms of literature by offering a dynamic repertoire of indigenous epistemic practices and lived experiences. Keeping this understanding broadly in the background and contemporary tribal literature(s) from India at the focal point, this paper proposes to argue that critical readings of such texts problematize predominant discourses of ‘indigeneity’. Embedded within the (neo)colonial ethnic stereotypes is the reductionist understanding of ‘indigeneity’ which puts forward a dualistic image of the tribal subject who is either an innocent, vulnerable relic of the past requiring preservation or a savage primitive needing subdual. Contemporary tribal writings from India offer a critical departure from rigid one-dimensional reading of the tribal character/person. By getting further translated into multiple Indian languages and in English, these narratives carry the potential to respond to contexts of suffering, displacement and persecution far removed from the spatiotemporal boundaries of the local context in which they originate. Hence, the act of translation not only ensures mobility to such texts but creates new space(s) for similar narratives of indigenous resistance to engage with each other and also extend the practice of tribal self-fashioning.

Irony, Names and Linguistic Resistance: NoViolet Bulawayo’s We Need New Names as a World-Making Narrative

Contemporary works of African literature often engage in the depiction of a geographical and cultural dislocation inscribed in today’s pattern of global migration. NoViolet Bulawayo’s We Need New Names (2013) fits within this framework as a female coming-of-age novel that follows the story of Darling, from the character’s childhood in post-2000 Zimbabwe to the alienating experience of life as a migrant in the United States of America. The peculiarity of the novel lays in Bulawayo’s linguistic choices, in particular the use of irony and the practice of (re)naming, which come to represent the feelings of un-belonging and political disillusionment that define the characters’ geo-cultural displacement. Using the normative theory of literature (Cheah 2016) as a theoretical framework, this paper further analyses the use of such literary devices as tools through which the narrative opens up to alternative worlds of representation. In this sense, this paper argues that Bulawayo’s We Need New Names can be considered as a world-making narrative of cultural and linguistic resistance against the disruption of Zimbabwe’s socio-political situation.

Recognizing and Treating Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Refugee Children

ABSTRACT Many migrant children experience abuse and neglect in their home country, abuse during their migration journey, and cultural dislocation in their final destination. It has been well documented that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as those experienced by migrant children can lead to long-term physical and psychological negative effects including the development of complex trauma (C-PTSD). Using a composite of similar cases treated by the author, Maria, a Mexican refugee, is presented in order to explore treatment options for refugee children and the challenges involved in treating this population. We demonstrate how Trauma Systems Therapy for Refugees (TST-R) can be used to treat C-PTSD in migrant children. We also discuss using art therapy, role-playing, psychodynamic psychotherapy, narrative exposure therapy and psychoeducation in an environment that takes into account the cultural background of the child’s country of origin how to approach the time limited treatment that is sometimes necessary when working with refugees.