The importance of sisters: Indian girls reflect on their experience in an orphanage

The literature on children who have lost their parents and have been raised in an orphanage indicates that they are at a developmental disadvantage compared with children who were raised within their own families. The majority of previous research in this field is taken from the barren institutions of Romania and Russia, solely using quantitative research methods. The goal of this article is to introduce the readers to a different way of gathering data about these children. Taken from a larger doctoral dissertation research project, qualitative methods were used, including ethnographic data, observations, conversations and photographic images, providing data of Indian girl's experiences of daily living in an orphanage. Participants included 19 girls, all living together in one orphanage in Jaipur, India. Data analysis was guided by principles of Grounded Theory, which places priority on the participant's narrative and the meaning of their experiences. The data illuminated the daily joys and struggles of growing up parentless. This article will focus on the methodology of the study as a unique way of accessing the girls’ experience in the home. In addition, it will highlight one main theme from the findings, i.e. the girls’ feeling of well-being stemming from a sense of belonging, particularly to the sisterhood of the home. The sibling relationships in the home provided much needed love, acceptance, and intimacy for the girls. The findings of this research, including the method of data collection, contributes to our understanding of a child's experience in an orphanage and what may help foster a sense of resilience and love.