Abstract

This study is aimed at examining the employment preparation of Chinese migrant women and exploring measures to support their employment in a practical manner. To accomplish the objectives, in-depth interviews with 15 Han Chinese and Korean Chinese women, who represent the highest proportion in Korea, were conducted. Each interview lasted for about an hour and a half on average, and there were additional questionnaires and observations on vocational courses. Collected data was analyzed in 4 steps by utilizing the analysis methods suggested by Lichtman (the three C's of data analysis: codes, categories, concepts), which were transformed to fit the final data. The research findings are as follows. First, the fundamental reasons that Chinese migrant women seek employment in Korea are as follows: role model as a mother based on motherhood and the desire to be recognized as a member of society. Second, as for employment strategies, although all the respondents were only dependent on the referral of their acquaintances and national institutions, Han Chinese and Korean Chinese women had ambivalent attitudes toward each other. Third, they attributed the causes of unemployment to personal aspects such as the amount of effort made and luck, and social structural aspects, including employment instability and low acceptance of multi- cultural individuals. Fourth, the migrant women hoping for 'complete integration' in the future, suggested some practical employment support measures. Such measures should be established by comprehensively reflecting their reasons for getting a job, employment strategies, attributions of unemployment, and employment outlook, rather than as response measures to the low birth rate and aging issues in Korea.

Full Text
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