“ I felt really strong inside, I said to myself alright I am alone, alright I have to stand. I felt something different I didn’t wait for anyone to give me strength it came all from within myself” # Salima

Abstract

This study aims to show how the experiences of migrant and refugee women with innerstrength, wisdom, and success disrupt the normative discourse about them present in integration and emancipation policy in the Netherlands. Research has shown that conducting research outside dominant policy frames enables a more powerful critique on that dominant framework. Eight semi-structured interviews, grounded in empathic dialogue, were conducted with five refugee women and three migrant women about how they experience inner-strength, wisdom, and success in the process of getting settled in a new country. Inner-strength and wisdom turned out to be key components for a successful settlement. While almost all women used their inner strength to overcome the difficulties that came with getting settled in a new country and used their wisdom to learn how to live in the Netherlands and set the goals they wanted to achieve. This study reveals that the experiences of migrant and refugee women with inner-strength, wisdom, and success don’t only disrupt the normative discourse it blows it up. Future research should focus on exploring other topics with migrant and refugee women that are of importance to their lives to formulate more extensive critiques on the normative discourse.