Role of Temporality in Adolescent Refugees’ Sense of a Good Life
Researchers: Mari Kira, Rouan Salim
Collaborators: Andrea Belgrade, University of California; Noor Salem, Columbia University; Fiona Lee, University of Michigan
Abstract:
Adolescent refugees are exposed to the traumas of forced displacement while they are undergoing developmental transitions from childhood to adulthood. This makes them a particularly vulnerable group. We conducted a Photovoice study with 14 Middle Eastern adolescent refugees resettled in the United States to inquire into how they conceptualize, experience, and strive for a good life. Our findings highlight how adolescents employ temporality – i.e., connections between past, present, and future – to satisfy their psychological needs and experience a good life. We identify four temporal strategies in fostering a sense of a good life; past-present contrasts, resourcing from the past, envisioning the future, and growing from processing past adversities. With this, we highlight how not only community factors existing in the present, but also refugees’ interpretation of them through wider timeframes, matter for refugees’ sense of a good life.
Resettled adult refugees’ careers and wellbeing
Researchers: Mari Kira
Collaborators: Andrea Belgrade, University of California; Noor Saleem, Columbia University; Marie Pattipati, University of Michigan; Fiona Lee, University of Michigan; Katja Wehrle, University of Giessen; Ute-Christine Klehe, University of Giessen
Abstract:
Our research focuses on refugee populations in Germany and the USA; on people who have been forced to leave their homes due to war and/or persecution. Traditionally, research on refugee populations has adopted a deficit perspective and covered topics such as trauma and integration problems. However, a life cannot fully be understood by looking only at its sorrows. Taking a strengths perspective, our work extends refugee studies by offering novel insights into refugee wellbeing, work integration, and psychological growth.
Identity Threats, Threat Emotions, and Identity Work Among Workers Suffering From Post-COVID
Researchers: Mari Kira
Collaborators: Katja Wehrle, University of Giessen; Ute-Christine Klehe, University of Giessen
Abstract:
This study focuses on the experiences of workers suffering from the Post-COVID syndrome. We specifically explore identity threats in the context of Post-COVID, and we seek to understand how people cope – How do they recraft their work identities, while developing a new, unexpected identity as a person with a disability? Our study addresses several questions. First, what kinds of work and health identity threats do Post-COVID sufferers experience, and what kinds of emotions emerge in relation to these identity threats? How do people employ identity work to cope with these threats and the related emotions? To illuminate workers’ temporal experiences of Post-COVID and trace the disability, work-related, and personal identity development, we ask: How do these experiences shape people’s identity development and identity growth?
Discrimination, identity threats, and coping among Asian American individuals
Researchers: Mari Kira, Ashley Ke
Collaborators: Fiona Lee and Allura Casanova, University of Michigan
Abstract:
We address identity threats and identity growth among East Asian-American individuals, especially during the time of the present pandemic. Building on Dr. Kira’s earlier conceptual and empirical work on identity threats and identity growth, we have collected qualitative interview and survey data seeking to explore the identity threats and novel negative stereotypes encountered by East Asian-American individuals. We also map their coping strategies when dealing with these negative experiences and their narratives of resulting identity growth.
Worker Subjectivity Under Organizational Control in China’s Internet industry
Researchers: Manjiang Shen, Mari Kira
Project Summary:
Employees in China’s Internet industry work excessively long hours. The extreme overwork signals organizational control that aims to push employees to produce as much work output as possible. Responding to this working time regime, workers have initiated online campaigns and spread two buzzwords – involution (neijuan) and lying flat (tangping) – to express their attitudes. To give voices to workers and investigate their subjectivity, we designed interview protocols and conducted 19 semi-structured interviews. We analyzed participants’ framings of involution and lying flat using a thematic analysis approach and found that they clustered into two groups. One group tended to internalize organizational control, whereas the other group showed cynicism through which the subjectivity of being against their organizations emerged. Currently, we are revising the study to expand the scope of data analysis.
Gender differences among Asian Americans coping with discrimination and identity threats
Researchers: Ashley Ke, Mari Kira
Project Summary:
Discrimination, racism, and microaggressions toward Asian Americans in the United States have been prevalent throughout our history. However, Asian Americans – especially Asian American women – have become an even greater target of physical and verbal harassment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Building off of the “Discrimination, identity threats, and coping among Asian American individuals” project, this study focuses on the gender differences in coping among the same participants and data set as a part of a senior honors thesis project.