Traditional Weaving as an Occupation of Karen Refugee Women

Abstract

This study explores the meaning of weaving for Karen refugee women from Burma as they participated in their traditional practice of weaving in Salt Lake City, Utah. Participants included eight Karen refugee women. Data were collected through one focus group and in-depth, semi-structured, open-ended interviews, structured to capture past and present meanings related to weaving. Transcription and analysis of the interviews and focus group were guided by phenomenology. Three themes emerged from structured, qualitative analysis: “I am Karen people”; “When there is nobody I am not happy, but with a lot of people I am happy”; and “If I can sell a lot of things I am happy to weave all the time”. The findings demonstrate how potent one occupation can be for the well-being of a particular group of people in terms of cultural identity construction, empowerment, social support, and economic survival in a new environment.

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