Tactics and Strategies Operating in Everyday Life Among Women with Experiences of Forced Migration

Abstract Nearly half of those who experience forced migration worldwide are women. These women often experience disempowerment and face distinct challenges in building their daily lives and participating in society. Factors such as gender, education, economic resources, age, and status intersect to shape their experiences. In this paper intersectionality and an occupational perspective on everyday life are used to analyse participation of women with forced migration experiences (WFMEs). A tactic-strategy continuum was applied to explore challenges and power dynamics in urban everyday lives among participants, focusing on how intersectionality shapes their engagement in new communities. Qualitative interviews were conducted in Sweden and Germany and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings are presented as four main themes highlighting experiences of intersectional power dynamics. Women employed tactics to move from uncertainty towards hope, which is illustrated through both disruptions and ongoing risks of precariousness, as well as the use of everyday occupations, such as bicycling and gardening. Social or strategic actions, such as building solidarity and individual negotiations, are presented as forms of tactics to manage uncertainty and hope. The findings indicate diverse use of power strategies and tactics which are used in the daily lives of WFMEs. Occupational therapists have the expertise to support WFMEs in rebuilding their daily lives within a new society. They can do so by using tactics such as bicycling and engaging in solidarity, which can help address power imbalances created by intersectional structural dynamics.