Caregivers and Breadwinners, Daughters and Sisters: The Relationship between Informal English Language Acquisition and Household Roles Among Bhutanese Refugee Women in Tucson

Abstract

Refugee women from conflict areas in Bhutan have been resettled to Tucson, Arizona. While many have preexisting English language skills, it is often necessary to continue learning English as a tool for success in the United States. This project discusses the informal educational experiences of Bhutanese refugee women, the implications of these exposures on English language acquisition, and thus on how women adjust to the United States. This study combined interviews and participant observation to explore English language exposure inside and outside the home, how these contexts contribute to language learning, and determine the roles of women in the household, primarily as breadwinners and caregivers.