Shining in Times of Crisis: How Refugee Women Display Leadership and Transform Hardship

Abstract There are currently approximately 122.6 million people displaced globally (UNHCR, 2024). This figure includes 43.7 million refugees (UNHCR, 2024). Nearly half of them are women. This qualitative study examined the following questions: How do women manifest leadership and agency in refugee situations? Subquestion: How do women contribute to peace, transformation, and healing through that leadership and agency? Five different individuals who had worked with women refugees for at least two years were recruited for the study. Two data collection instruments were employed: a preliminary survey and a structured interview. The study focused on the lived experiences of refugee women within the context of the above questions. It was discovered that refugee women manifest leadership and agency, and in doing so contribute to peace, transformation, and healing in myriad ways, under a wide variety of circumstances, and with varying levels of support and limitations. They manifested leadership and agency by pursuing education and employment, participating in focus groups, speaking out publicly against abuse, assuming formal or informal leadership roles, carving out positions for themselves and places at the table that previously did not exist, and volunteering to help new arrival refugee women. Their contributions were abundant, fulfilled needs, and were impactful in large and small ways. Refugee organizations must continue to support women, particularly in the areas of cultural assistance, community, and healing from trauma. Additionally, these organizations must create space for refugee women to ascend to the top rungs of the leadership structures in order to fully embody and fulfill their mission. Keywords: refugee, refugees, women, leadership, agency, transformation, peace, healing