Blocked opportunity and threatened identity: Understanding experiences of disrespect in South Sudanese Australians

Abstract

Lack of respect is a recurring theme in the literature exploring the settlement of South Sudanese Australians with refugee experiences. Qualitative interviews with nine South Sudanese Australians confirmed the strong sense of disrespect in the community brought about by blocked employment opportunities and a sense of threat to their cultural identity and traditions impelled by the intervention of regulating authorities. Self identity and motivational posturing theories were used to unpack and explore why the intervention from family law enforcement authorities responding to reports of family violence and neglect were often met with defiance and calls for respect and respectful treatment from the community. In addition to providing a theoretical framework for understanding the sense of disrespect in the Sudanese community, this article proposes more effective approaches for Australian authorities and the Sudanese community to communicate with and attract respect from each other and the rest of the community.