In the United States, the average, annual rate of suicide is 11 out of every 100,000 people. The Bhutanese refugee population living in the US is two times that number. 24.4% of the Bhutanese refugee population are diagnosed with depression, three times the US national rate. Overwhelmingly, the victims are middle-aged, unemployed males. A study from 2010 found that Bhutanese men were overwhelmed with learning English and financially caring for their families, which are two very common struggles all refugees face.
(A suicide hotline poster written in Nepali)
Despite my research, I found little analysis or writings on if this epidemic within the Bhutanese community is gendered. Studies made about the Bhutanese suicide epidemic have almost always had an even amount of men and women studied, despite the fact that the majority of attempted and completed suicides within the community are men. Within the resettlement community, the only gendered programs that I have been able to find have been specifically for women. While these programs are vital, as refugee women are typically less skilled, educated and are at greater risk of becoming socially and economically isolated. However, there seems to be a lack of awareness of refugee men being gendered individuals and having gendered needs.
Is suicide among Bhutanese refugees a gendered problem affecting men? There is little research to prove that it is, though I am not convinced. I believe more research should be given to resettled male refugees about their struggles as refugee men in the United States. Specifically, research should focus on Bhutanese and Nepali masculinities and if circumstances, particularly economic, in the United States are negatively affecting those and leading to the large amount of suicides.
When you mention refugee men and difficulties they go through in adapting to the United States, I remember the movie, The Good Lie (2014), in which a group of Sudanese refugees come to the US. The movie portrays the lives of three men that go through culture shock and are victims of discrimination in some situations, while they try to adjust to living in the US.
ReplyDeleteFor men and women, living as a refugee has serious psychological repercussions. Men refugees usually come from societies in which they are expected to be the providers of their families. When they are removed from their homes and find themselves in situations where they cannot protect and provide for their families, they feel that their masculinity is questioned. With the questioning of their sense of self and masculinity, men may feel shame, leading them to react in detrimental ways, for themselves and for their families. As Erin pointed out, some men believe there is no other option but suicide. These self-destructive actions are dangerous because the other individuals around them are effected and influenced and even lead to believe that these actions are acceptable or normalized. This may reproduce a culture in which expressing emotions in self-destructive ways is accepted, since it is not addressed.
Thanks Erin. This is the main idea many of the readings for the week emphasized. Chanta and Gutmann (2002) put forward the consequence that may occur when the traditional role of men are taken from them; provision for the family, without any alternatives, resulting to women and children becoming the victims of circumstance. This study brings out a different form of consequence altogether, suicide.
ReplyDeleteI think not only should more studies be done on Bhutanese and Nepali men who are struggling, but practical programs and help for their gendered needs as well.