Resilience and Canadian SOGIE Refugees: An Application of the "Ordinary Magic" Model

SOGIE (sexual orientation and gender identity expression) refugees flee their home countries due to stigma and persecution, often undertaking dangerous journeys to seek safety in more inclusive nations like Canada. Although Canada has welcomed many SOGIE refugees, there has been limited research on the resilience they demonstrate throughout their integration process. Guided by Masten’s “ordinary magic” resilience theory, this study examines the immediate challenges faced by SOGIE refugees and the factors that support or hinder their resilience. To analyze interviews with 32 SOGIE refugee participants, I used reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) supported by NVivo 12 software. Four key themes were identified: receiving vital support during critical times, the ability to live authentically in Canada, expressing deep gratitude for Canada’s support, and a strong desire to contribute to Canadian society. All participants reported that their journey would not have been possible without the generous support of loved ones, community organizations, and the Canadian government. These findings support the “ordinary magic” theory of resilience, which emphasizes the importance of everyday social supports over rare internal traits in fostering resilience. In addition, I identified two major barriers to resilience: a reluctance to engage with members of their own diaspora due to past trauma, and an intense fear of unintentionally committing a crime and facing deportation. Regarding the latter, participants noted that Canadian laws are often not well-known or well understood. These insights offer valuable contributions to our understanding of the Canadian SOGIE refugee experience.