When women are forcibly displaced, structurally violent migration processes can have dramatic and devastating effects on experiences of motherhood. This paper shares stories of two women who overcame narratives of shame and guilt, individually developed second stories of motherhood, and then came together through letter writing and narrative conversations to collectively create a renewed sense of belonging. The paper discusses ways narrative practices can support women facing forced displacement to rewrite their identities through themes of survival and collective strength, rather than individual failure.

Key words: motherhood, displacement, collective externalising, re-membering, outsider-witness, double-story development, enabling contribution, family reunification, narrative therapy, narrative practice

Baker, J. (2026). Mothers who move: Traversing refugee experience, overcoming shame and reclaiming motherhood. International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, (1), 60–69. https://doi.org/10.4320/OCWV3731