Work

Surviving Exile. Queer Displaced People’s Lived Experiences of Aid, Risks and Coping in Kakuma

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This paper examines the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ displaced individuals in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya. Drawing on situated knowledge and relational agency, it delves into how queer people experience the humanitarian-aid system on-site, what risks they encounter, and how they exert agency to cope with the prevalent challenges of day to day life. Findings reveal that, in a country context where same-sex relations are illegalized and queer people criminalized, those displaced face heightened risks. They are confronted with the heteronormative paradigms inherent to the humanitarian-aid system, ones resulting in their neglect and denied access to much-needed assistance and protection. Structural and physical violence such as discrimination, exclusion, harassment and threats of murder exacerbate unrelenting fears and tangible risks in the camp. To navigate these challenges, they employ diverse individual and especially collective coping strategies, creating safe spaces for mutual support, exchange and hope.

Source: Gender Issues

DOI: 10.1007/s12147-024-09344-6

Authors: Ulrike Krause, Nadine Segadlo

Institutions: University of Münster, Osnabrück University

Language: English

Topic: Migration and Exile Studies

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,190