Picturing the ambiguity of homestay: a photovoice exploration of Ukrainian refugee women’s experiences with their Canadian hosts in Toronto

This study explores the experiences of Ukrainian refugee women hosted by Canadian families in the Greater Toronto Area, focusing on the dynamics of this unique living arrangement amidst Toronto’s challenging housing situation. Using Feminist Standpoint Theory and a research-creation approach through...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Areej Al-Hamad, Yasin M. Yasin, Kateryna Metersky, Sepali Guruge, Molly Hingorani, Caitlin Gare
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Arts & Humanities
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2025.2472536
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849763446659219456
author Areej Al-Hamad
Yasin M. Yasin
Kateryna Metersky
Sepali Guruge
Molly Hingorani
Caitlin Gare
author_facet Areej Al-Hamad
Yasin M. Yasin
Kateryna Metersky
Sepali Guruge
Molly Hingorani
Caitlin Gare
author_sort Areej Al-Hamad
collection DOAJ
description This study explores the experiences of Ukrainian refugee women hosted by Canadian families in the Greater Toronto Area, focusing on the dynamics of this unique living arrangement amidst Toronto’s challenging housing situation. Using Feminist Standpoint Theory and a research-creation approach through Photovoice, eighteen Ukrainian refugee women shared and reflected on their experiences via photo elicitation interviews. The analysis, combining visual and narrative elements, highlights three key themes: Host-Guest Dynamics in Shared Spaces, which sheds light on the complexities of navigating interpersonal relationships within shared living environments; Adaptation through Coexistence, emphasizing the mutual adjustments and cultural exchanges between hosts and guests; and Refining the Path of Refugee Hosting, which reflects on the evolving practices and lessons learned from these hosting arrangements. These findings underscore the importance of centering refugee women’s voices to better understand the social, cultural, and political factors shaping their hosting experiences and contribute to advancing the discourse on refugee hosting practices.
format Article
id doaj-art-e18b5fc96352424aadc3301623a0b9f0
institution DOAJ
issn 2331-1983
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cogent Arts & Humanities
spelling doaj-art-e18b5fc96352424aadc3301623a0b9f02025-08-20T03:05:24ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Arts & Humanities2331-19832025-12-0112110.1080/23311983.2025.2472536Picturing the ambiguity of homestay: a photovoice exploration of Ukrainian refugee women’s experiences with their Canadian hosts in TorontoAreej Al-Hamad0Yasin M. Yasin1Kateryna Metersky2Sepali Guruge3Molly Hingorani4Caitlin Gare5Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, CanadaHealth Sciences, University of Doha for Science and Technology, Doha, QatarDaphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, CanadaDaphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, CanadaDaphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, CanadaDaphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, CanadaThis study explores the experiences of Ukrainian refugee women hosted by Canadian families in the Greater Toronto Area, focusing on the dynamics of this unique living arrangement amidst Toronto’s challenging housing situation. Using Feminist Standpoint Theory and a research-creation approach through Photovoice, eighteen Ukrainian refugee women shared and reflected on their experiences via photo elicitation interviews. The analysis, combining visual and narrative elements, highlights three key themes: Host-Guest Dynamics in Shared Spaces, which sheds light on the complexities of navigating interpersonal relationships within shared living environments; Adaptation through Coexistence, emphasizing the mutual adjustments and cultural exchanges between hosts and guests; and Refining the Path of Refugee Hosting, which reflects on the evolving practices and lessons learned from these hosting arrangements. These findings underscore the importance of centering refugee women’s voices to better understand the social, cultural, and political factors shaping their hosting experiences and contribute to advancing the discourse on refugee hosting practices.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2025.2472536Ukrainian refugee womenhomestayrefugee hostingphotovoicehost-guest dynamicsrefugee hospitality
spellingShingle Areej Al-Hamad
Yasin M. Yasin
Kateryna Metersky
Sepali Guruge
Molly Hingorani
Caitlin Gare
Picturing the ambiguity of homestay: a photovoice exploration of Ukrainian refugee women’s experiences with their Canadian hosts in Toronto
Cogent Arts & Humanities
Ukrainian refugee women
homestay
refugee hosting
photovoice
host-guest dynamics
refugee hospitality
title Picturing the ambiguity of homestay: a photovoice exploration of Ukrainian refugee women’s experiences with their Canadian hosts in Toronto
title_full Picturing the ambiguity of homestay: a photovoice exploration of Ukrainian refugee women’s experiences with their Canadian hosts in Toronto
title_fullStr Picturing the ambiguity of homestay: a photovoice exploration of Ukrainian refugee women’s experiences with their Canadian hosts in Toronto
title_full_unstemmed Picturing the ambiguity of homestay: a photovoice exploration of Ukrainian refugee women’s experiences with their Canadian hosts in Toronto
title_short Picturing the ambiguity of homestay: a photovoice exploration of Ukrainian refugee women’s experiences with their Canadian hosts in Toronto
title_sort picturing the ambiguity of homestay a photovoice exploration of ukrainian refugee women s experiences with their canadian hosts in toronto
topic Ukrainian refugee women
homestay
refugee hosting
photovoice
host-guest dynamics
refugee hospitality
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2025.2472536
work_keys_str_mv AT areejalhamad picturingtheambiguityofhomestayaphotovoiceexplorationofukrainianrefugeewomensexperienceswiththeircanadianhostsintoronto
AT yasinmyasin picturingtheambiguityofhomestayaphotovoiceexplorationofukrainianrefugeewomensexperienceswiththeircanadianhostsintoronto
AT katerynametersky picturingtheambiguityofhomestayaphotovoiceexplorationofukrainianrefugeewomensexperienceswiththeircanadianhostsintoronto
AT sepaliguruge picturingtheambiguityofhomestayaphotovoiceexplorationofukrainianrefugeewomensexperienceswiththeircanadianhostsintoronto
AT mollyhingorani picturingtheambiguityofhomestayaphotovoiceexplorationofukrainianrefugeewomensexperienceswiththeircanadianhostsintoronto
AT caitlingare picturingtheambiguityofhomestayaphotovoiceexplorationofukrainianrefugeewomensexperienceswiththeircanadianhostsintoronto