2026/07/20 by Myrian Carbajal, Ihssane Otmani, Nadia Baghdadi · 1 voice
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving #Migration and Labor Dynamics #Migration, Health and Trauma
paper · pdf · doi:10.20377/jfr-1432
openalex publication_date 2026/07/20 · openalex created_date 2026/07/21 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Objective: We set out to examine how the reconfiguration of gender identities among Syrian refugees in Switzerland is shaped by the moral duty to care for aging parents living in Syria or third countries. Background: Syrian refugees in Switzerland face prolonged legal uncertainty, financial insecurity, and social marginalization. At the same time, they strive to fulfill responsibilities toward parents and sometimes siblings who live abroad. Applying the circulation of care framework, this article explores how such transnational care responsibilities influence the reconfiguration of gender identities. Method: The analysis draws on in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with 16 Syrian refugees living in different Swiss cantons.Results: Our findings show how men shift away from their identity as male provider to embrace masculinities based on moral responsibility, emotional support, and the protection of parents and siblings in Syria or third countries. Meanwhile, new femininities emerge as women gain more autonomy within the nuclear household and more authority within transnational family networks, where they often assume financial and decision-making responsibility. Conclusion: Although transnational care responsibilities create an emotional burden, they also serve as a source of recognition and social validation. They provide refugees with a coherent sense of identity in contexts otherwise marked by stigma, paternalism, and restricted mobility. The article contributes to family and migration studies by showing how gender identities are reconfigured within extended transnational networks, rather than solely within the nuclear family.