Expectations and realities: Living with a negative in a Norwegian reception centre

Abstract

Within the context of the imagined Norwegian way of life, this thesis aims to explore the lives and experiences of female asylum seekers with a negative asylum application. I intention is to examine whether living in one of the most equal and wealthy societies in the world makes a difference in their lives. The concept of living with a negative will form the background of my analysis, in regards to how they experience life in relation to their expectations. Within this I shall look into whether living in a Norwegian reception centre creates a space for them influence their lives. Furthermore I shall look into the different arenas in which they hope to find inclusion, such as through shared faith or the church community. I also aspire to examine the importance of hope and social recognition in the everyday lives of these women. My aim is therefore to look into how living with a negative influences their lives and within this, the strategies they choose in order to deal with their situation. Most of all I aim to shed light on the relationship between the expectations the women had before arrival in Norway, and their experiences of living at a Norwegian reception centre.