A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

For example, foreign medical professionals are readily integrated into the U.K. healthcare system,
according to interviewees. 462 Although Liberians noted that professionals outside the medical field
have more difficulty, they are generally able to find some form of professional work, as opposed to
more menial labor.
In turn, the fact that Liberian men in the United Kingdom are able to find higher level employment
also appears to mitigate the dramatic gender role reversals that many Liberians describe taking
place in the United States. 463 Interviewees noted that, while
women are also well employed in the United Kingdom and
may indeed make more than their spouses, “the pressure is
not as much.” 464 They attribute this directly to the fact that
in the United Kingdom “families are looked after” by the
state. 465 This high level of social welfare, however, along with
a strong child protection regime, can exacerbate problems
in childrearing, according to some. One community leader
reported that children were aware that the government
provided monetary support to families with children and
thus felt they could “have their way.” 466
Building a New Community
Like their counterparts in the United States, Liberians in the
United Kingdom have built a strong structure of community
organization that encompasses the United Kingdom and
Europe, as described below.
Although some Liberians report feelings of loss of community and concerns about isolation from other
Liberians, the diaspora community has developed numerous structures that provide opportunities
to interact with other Liberians. These structures include political organizations, ethnic and tribal
associations, women’s groups, alumni associations, social clubs, and faith-based groups.
Liberians also socialize and stay connected through a network of list serves, blog postings, websites,
news magazines, journals, and chat rooms. At times, the array of diaspora organizations can add
pressure to the lives of new and established immigrants:
Take for instance, a friend of mine living in Philadelphia. He is a Mandingo
from Lofa County and has been living in the city of brotherly love ever since
late 1990s. This friend is part of the Lofa county organization; he is part of the
Mandingo organization; he is part of Liberian Mandingo of Pennsylvania;
356