Interview for
Isatou Dukureh
7/26/2019
Interviewed By:
Shanaz Deen
Date Interviewed:
Audio Recording of Interview
Summary
Isatou explains her experience in Gambia, in an abusive household and in a community where she suffered female genital mutilation, and her feeling of freedom escaping a forced marriage to her uncle by finding asylum in the United States. She describes her present life as a biology student at Monmouth College, practicing Islam on holidays, and missing her family home in Gambia, while hoping to become a gynecologist in the future.
Transcript
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Additional Notes
Outline
Narrator: Isatou Dukareh
Date: 7/26/19
Location: Throgs Neck Public Library in the Bronx, NY
Content Warning: Female genital mutilation (FGM)
Summary: Isatou explains her experience in Gambia, in an abusive household and in a community where she suffered female genital mutilation, and her feeling of freedom escaping a forced marriage to her uncle by finding asylum in the United States. She describes her present life as a biology student at Monmouth College, practicing Islam on holidays, and missing her family home in Gambia, while hoping to become a gynecologist in the future.
Topics: Childhood, Identity, Violence, Family, Conditions back home, Religion, Gender, Cultural Adjustment, Education, Employment, Service, Immigration Process
Outline
Section 1: (00:00-10:12)
Childhood- Born in a village called Gambissara in Gambia, West Africa in 1993. Lived there until age 5. Lived with grandma in Bansung from 5-14, then moved back with parents at age 14
Family- Lived with lots of family in a diverse community of different tribes and cultures while doing primary school
Identity- Dad is from Serahule tribe and mom is from Mandinka tribe. She is more attached to Mandinka culture
Childhood- Favorite memory were the yearly traditions that brings family together
Circumcision is one of these traditions, but Isatou is against the actual practice
Discusses the process of the celebration including attire and activities
Family, Education- Was sent to live with parents to grow closer with them and go to a better school in the city
Violence- It was challenging going to live with her parents because her dad was very abusive
Gender- Women are treated as inferior to men in Gambia because men have the power
Family, violence- Dad would abuse mom if he thought she did something wrong and did the same to her
Education- Dad tried to prevent her from going to school
Education- Enjoyed school because she was able to see her friends and leave her home life
Math and science were her favorite subjects
Currently pre-med
Section 2: (10:12-20:37)
Immigration process- Felt free from what she left behind
Family- Aunt was the one who sponsored her visa and supported her
Education- Applied to go to school in the U.S. to escape a forced marriage and her abusive dad
Service- Volunteered at a food bank in Harlem while figuring out what to do next
Immigration Process- Worked with City Bar Justice to get asylum
Family, Conditions back home- At the end of middle school, her dad arranged for her and her uncle to get married against her own wishes
Asked her uncle/husband to allow her to stay with her parents and finish high school before becoming his wife
Education- In her last year of high school she was apart of the Competitive College Club, organized by the U.S. Embassy, which helped her apply to college in the U.S.
Was accepted by Monmouth College in Illinois and got help from her cousin to apply for a visa
Immigration Process- Packed the morning she was supposed to leave so her dad wouldn’t find out
Family- Mom and sister helped her get to the airport
Section 3: (20:37-__)
Education- Did not end up attending Monmouth because of the cost. Tried going to community college, but it was still too expensive
Immigration Process, Education- Needed to be going to school to keep her I-20, so she applied to a language school to be able to stay legally even though it was still unaffordable.
Family- Aunt lives with her grandma and herself
Family- Misses her mom and brother in Gambia, hasn’t seen them in 5 years
Religion- Practiced Islam in Gambia by going to the mosque, but mostly praying at home
Mosques are far from where she lives in the U.S., so she only goes for holidays
Conditions back home, Religion, Gender- In Gambia, sometimes traditions are justified as religious rules (i.e. Men being treated better than women)
Cultural Adjustment- Likes that she can make her own decisions in America and sees a bright future for herself
Education, Employment- Studying biology to become a gynecologist because her aunt is a Female Genital Mutilation victim and wants to help other women
Immigration Process- Is not in contact with any other refugees, and the people around her have difficulty understanding her experience
Immigration Process- Wishes there was a better “starting point” for immigrants to get the right information and resources to settle