Abstract:
A growing number of individuals from the Middle East and North Africa are seeking refugee status or entering the immigration lottery to come to Oregon. This thesis examines the problems that women face when they emigrate from the Middle East and North Africa to the Portland area based on a lack of adequate public transportation and issues obtaining a driver’s license. It considers the differences in services offered to groups based on their manner of arrival, issues with housing prices, transportation costs in Oregon, and the barrier of language. It additionally looks at how gender roles can become more rigid in times of conflict and infringe upon women’s access to transportation. Finally, it frames the issue of Middle Eastern women accessing public transportation in Oregon in the context of international rights. This thesis incorporates academic research, interviews with women who have immigrated from the Middle East and North Africa to Oregon, and interviews with employees of social service networks and government offices in Oregon. It seeks to draw conclusions from this research that will allow the author to propose policy solutions for how the government can better empower women from the Middle East and North Africa in Oregon.
Description:
68 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of International Studies and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Spring 2017