Challenging our assumptions about refugees

“Ugh, do they even really need help? How can they be walking around in Gucci and call themselves refugees?”

That was a friend of mine expressing her discontent with Ukrainians that don’t fit the narrative we’ve all been fed about what a refugee should look like.

Honestly, I get it. Because I had a similar bias when I was volunteering. There I was, intentionally dressed down so not to create a spectacle of my affluent middle-class existence, only to find many of the refugees I was helping to be better dressed and manicured than I.

So, what gives?

We make assumptions

It wasn’t until I heard the refugees’ stories and situation that it dawned on me. Many of the people I was helping were just like me — middle class moms balancing family, careers, and societal expectations. Except they happened to be facing extraordinary circumstances. They were forced to flee their homes because they were no longer safe from an aggressor bombing and committing war crimes against civilians in their neighborhood.

The truth is, many refugees do face poverty, and at a much higher rate compared to other groups of people. But not all refugees fall into this category. According to UNHR, a refugees’ status is primarily determined by their need for protection, not their economic circumstances.

So while we may be familiar with the heartbreaking images of people experiencing socioeconomical hardships, understanding…