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The Sociological Observer, including Stay at unhome: Asylum seekers’ struggles in domestic spaces of heim(s) in Germany
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File | Description | Size | Format | |
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sociological_observer 2021 (Fathi and Soleimani).pdf | 1.76 MB |
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Date Issued
April 2021
Date Available
22T15:18:32Z May 2023
Abstract
Heim in German means home. However, Heim(s) are also the names given to residential complexes that the German government has provisioned to accommodate asylum seekers (similar to Direct Provision centres in Ireland). These temporary accommodations are available to asylum seekers until their applications for refugee status is determined. Rooms within a heim are shared between 2-3 people and kitchens and bathrooms are shared among residents of up to 10 rooms. Heims in general are cold and unwelcoming places that do not offer what is expected from a home. Touraj Soleimani’s narratives of a heim where he currently lives in Germany was reminiscent of narratives Mastoureh collected in her research with refugees in Ireland when refugee men recalled their experiences of residing in Direct Provision centres. Similar characteristics of cold, unhomely and devoid of physical and emotional contacts are also reported about Direct Provision centres in Ireland – structures which are used to host asylum seekers for a temporary period but lack adequate standard of housing (Breen, 2008). In our discussion, Touraj, referred to three distinct spatial elements in heim as an unhome.
Sponsorship
European Commission
Other Sponsorship
British Academy
Global Challenge Research Fund (Royal Holloway University of London)
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
Sociological Association of Ireland
Journal
The Sociological Observer
Volume
2
Issue
1
Start Page
37
End Page
44
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
ISSN
2737-7563
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
Owning collection
Views
159
Acquisition Date
May 27, 2023
May 27, 2023
Downloads
6
Acquisition Date
May 27, 2023
May 27, 2023