Flickor som ensamkommande barn : Ensamkommande flickors upplevelser av asylprocessen

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study was to investigate how unaccompanied refugee girls were received by Swedish authorities and the surrounding. Focus in the study was to explore the impact that the Swedish asylum process has on unaccompanied refugee girls. It examines the target group’s asylum experiences regarding their well-being, everyday life, future goals and their integration into their present-day society. The theoretical starting points of this study were the intersectional perspective and the theory of resilience. The method utilized in this study entailed semi-structured interviews with seven women, who were unaccompanied refugee children. The respondents moved to Sweden between the age range 12-17. The results of the study disclosed that the respondents' well-being was negatively affected during the waiting period due to uncertainty of their future. In addition, the results indicated that the respondents showed resilience by adopting a positive attitude and showing a successful adjustment despite stress in their everyday life and uncertainty about their future. The results further showed that the respondents who lived in home for care or housing for unaccompanied children, felt that they were treated differently because of their gender. On the other hand, being constantly reminded that the respondents were a minority in the group of unaccompanied children was something all respondents could agree on. Freedom and equality were the two principles that the respondents appreciated the most in Sweden. The conclusion of the study is that the respondents did not let their setbacks and uncertainty about their future prevent them from achieving their dreams and integrating into Swedish society.