Forced to move, forced to change: family identity and role redefinition in forced migration

Abstract

This study examines how Syrian refugee families reconstruct their collective identity following forced displacement to France. Using in-depth interviews and observations with 15 families, it explores how consumption becomes a strategic mechanism for resilience and identity reconstruction. Findings reveal a shift from patriarchal to collaborative family structures, where mothers gain public visibility and fathers embrace caregiving roles. As extended kinship ties weaken, nuclear family autonomy increases. Through food rituals, collaborative budgeting, and community engagement, families establish ‘social resource substitution’, replacing lost material and social supports. The study extends family identity theory by showing how extreme disruption drives intentional identity reconstruction. It also challenges Western-centric consumer research by highlighting distinct cultural logics shaping consumption in collectivist systems, offering new insights for supporting displaced populations.

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