“Long, Difficult, Terrifying, and Very Dangerous Road”

Refugees are forced to flee their homes due to well-founded fear of persecution, war or conflict, or other threats to their lives. As established in International Human Rights Law, refugees are not allowed to be deported under the principle of non-refoulement. To overcome such hardships, many refugees display resilience—the ability to overcome significant adversity—that may be fostered internally, but often may depend on other external factors. Little research has been conducted on the capacity for refugee women to be resilient and the factors that contribute to that resilience. In this qualitative study, 10 refugees from three different countries (Afghanistan, Syria, and the Ivory Coast) were interviewed in southern Germany to gain a deeper understanding of the factors the women believed to contribute to their resilience. Three overarching themes, all with multiple sub-themes, emerged: 1) a difficult departure and journey was worth the risk, 2) despite the challenges, help came, and 3) finding strength to endure. Women drew strength from their children, and from their desire for a better future. In the end, much of the strength they cultivated came from a deep resolve to hold onto hope. Further research could explore the ability of women refugees to be resilient in countries that are less welcoming.