Separated by Seas, United in Strength: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis of Nigerian and Venezuelan Refugee Women’s Migration Narratives

This study analyzes refugee women's migration journey and lives from Venezuela and Nigeria, seeking to compare and co-construct their narratives. These refugees faced numerous social and psychological obstacles, including traumatic migration journeys, racism, and difficulties in integration into the new country. To obtain this information, episodic interviews were conducted with eight participants in their native languages (English and Spanish). They were later transcribed and analyzed with a reflexive thematic analysis considering a socio-constructivist and intercultural approach. The analysis shows a dominant narrative of seeking stability, survival, and safety as a central theme between all the interviewees. At the same time, there is a difference in their migration journey and adaptation to the host country. Lastly, through the interviews, the narratives are co-constructed among all the participants, emphasizing their resilience and empowerment. Thus, it is concluded that the interviewer’s role in highlighting their migration journey, as well as their resilience and achievements, contributes to a more empowering narrative construction for some participants. Additionally, it is seen that these narratives could be further empowered by addressing systemic barriers and advocating policy changes.