Fractured nostalgia and imagined belonging: Family lessons and transnational ties in LGBTQ+ lives

Previous research has documented the potential of digital projects for immigrant students to capitalize on their transnational knowledge. Yet, there are only limited insights on the practices and perspectives of immigrant adults in digital/multimodal composition. In this article, we explore how visual media are used by adults and adolescents as resources in the production of digital texts, and as artifacts to elicit accounts and memories. We draw from transnational approaches to theorize the role of technology in facilitating connections with students’ home countries. We use social semiotics and testimonio lenses to examine media they selected to represent their hometowns in (or nearby) the Mexican state of Michoacán. Lastly, we adopt methods of practitioner inquiry and artifactual literacy to elicit information about participants’ understandings and choices in the composition process. Our findings show that while transnational ties were relevant for all participants, their understandings about their hometowns differed across generations. Adults represented the homeland as a source of healing and miracles, while youth focused on concerns about crime and corruption. We also document the complexities of access to visual media through search engines. We show the ways family networks, travel, and media consumption shaped the composition choices students made, as well as how their current circumstances, roles, and concerns led them to share testimonios of struggle and faith. We discuss contributions to digital writing research across generations, and implications for pedagogical practices that leverage students’ transnational ties and migration histories

Despite the increasing population of multicultural adolescents in Korea with foreign-born parents, research into their deviant behavior, particularly in relation to transnational ties with their mothers’ home countries, remains limited. Addressing this gap, our study investigated the impact of such ties on multicultural adolescents’ deviant behaviors. Utilizing waves 7–9 of the Multicultural Adolescent Panel Survey (N = 1,193, n = 3,330), we employed a hybrid random effects negative binomial regression to assess both between-individual effects and within-individual changes over time. Our main independent variable was adolescents’ transnational social ties with their mother’s home countries, encompassing both outbound ties (adolescent’s visit to the mother’s home country) and inbound ties (visits by grandparents or relatives from the mother’s home country). We found that transnational ties with the mother’s home country were more likely to induce stress than provide support for adolescents. Specifically, multicultural adolescents with transnational ties through visits from grandparents or relatives from their mother’s home country to Korea exhibited a higher propensity for deviant behaviors compared to those without such ties. Moreover, these transnational visits exacerbated the risk of delinquency over time. We did not find any moderating effect of self-esteem on the relationship between transnational ties and deviant behaviors. Our findings underscore the importance of fostering a social environment that embraces multicultural families as integral members of Korean society.

BackgroundLittle attention has been paid to the relationship between perceived discrimination and self-rated health (SRH) among foreign workers in Korea. Transnational ties with the home country are known to be critical among immigrants, as they allow the maintenance of social networks and support. Nonetheless, as far as we know, no studies have examined the impact of transnational ties on SRH itself and the relationship between perceived discrimination and SRH, which the current study tries to examine.MethodsLogistic regression analyses were conducted using the 2013 Survey on Living Conditions of Foreign Workers in Korea. Adult foreign workers from different Asian countries (n = 1,370) participated in this study. The dependent variable was good SRH and the independent variable was perceived discrimination. Transnational ties with the home country, as a moderating variable, was categorized into broad (i.e., contacting family members in the home country) vs. narrow types (i.e., visiting the home country).ResultsForeign workers who perceived discrimination had a lower rate of good SRH than those who did not perceive discrimination. Broad social transnational ties moderated the relationship between perceived discrimination and SRH; narrow social transnational ties did not.ConclusionsIn line with previous studies, an association was found between perceived discrimination and SRH. Broad social transnational ties can be a good source of social support and buffer against the distress of perceived discrimination.

Museo Nazionale dell'Emigrazione Italiana (MEI)

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyze the determinants of transnational business ties (i.e. ties with the country of origin) and to investigate their impact on the economic performance of immigrant firms.Design/methodology/approachBased on the representative survey conducted among 259 foreign-born immigrant entrepreneurs in Marche region (Central Italy), the study investigates the determinants of having transnational ties with countries of origin. Then it compares the effect of transnational ties and the effect of alternative domestic ethnic business ties on the performance of immigrant firms.FindingsThis study demonstrates that having transnational ties is more likely for individuals with former entrepreneurial experience in the home countries and with higher education acquired in Italy. The performance of immigrant firms in the 2014–2016 period (measured by the level of revenues) is positively related to transnational ties – this effect is very strong and significant. On the other hand, reliance on the domestic ethnic ties (i.e. ties with co-ethnic population in Italy) is one of the key factors that inhibits further growth of immigrant enterprises.Originality/valueThis study advances the understanding of how immigrant entrepreneurs create transnational business ties with their home countries. Additionally, this research contributes to the existing literature on immigrant entrepreneurship, by explaining the role of heterogeneous business ties: transnational connections, domestic ties with co-ethnic partners and ties with individuals from native population (in this case: Italy) for the entrepreneurial performance. Consequently, it offers recommendations for policy-makers willing to encourage entrepreneurial activities of immigrants in host countries and to their counterparts in home countries, who are planning to use the advantage diaspora entrepreneurial potential for the benefit of their economies.

This study compares the health conditions of domestic Caribbeans with those living in the United States to explore how national context and migration experiences might influence substance use (i.e., alcohol or drug) and other mental and physical health conditions. The study is based upon probability samples of non-institutionalized Caribbeans living in the United States (1621), Jamaica (1216) and Guyana (2068) 18 years of age and over. Employing descriptive statistics and multivariate analytic procedures, the results revealed that substance use and other physical health conditions and major depressive disorder and mania vary by national context, with higher rates among Caribbeans living in the United States. Context and generation status influenced health outcomes. Among first generation black Caribbeans, residing in the United States for a longer length of time is linked to poorer health outcomes. There were different socio-demographic correlates of health among at-home and abroad Caribbeans. The results of this study support the need for additional research to explain how national context, migratory experiences and generation status contribute to understanding substance use and mental disorders and physical health outcomes among Caribbean first generation and descendants within the United States, compared to those remaining in the Caribbean region.

Editor's Note: Part 1 appeared in Care Management Journals, 12(2), 2011. For transnationals, the is crucial to sustaining the links and ties to the home country and the value of extended social networks both at home and the host country. Many transnationals rely on these relationships to commune with their kin in their native land to intervene on their behalf. For the transnationals who value their independence, they are forced to forego their self-reliance by having to rely on social capital. Although some may see this as a negative aspect for the transnational in certain cultures such as in the Caribbean reciprocal relationships are a part of the culture. The is presented in the context of upbringing and the role it plays in defining the values, attitudes, and behavior. The fact that many in this group return to their homeland or have the intention might be the motivation for maintaining these strong ties (Reynolds, Zotini, & London South Bank University. Families & Social Capital ESRC Research Group, 2006). However, the is not only defined by social networks in the home country but also the collective shared and lived memories of those in the host countries. Drawing on the research on transnational New Zealanders in London, many of whom seek out their expatriate country folk to maintain connections, they also engage in interacting with different members of the diaspora to share and draw on their lived experiences of home and host countries (Mau, Mewes, & Zimmermann, 2008). The collective experience of community may, to some, be a question of avoidance as they wrestle with their identity. Their notions of home may be an idealistic and nostalgic representation of the past and offering a utopian future, presenting them with the dilemma that they themselves cannot return home. They are confronted with the notion of difference. This is poignantly demonstrated in the documentary, Neither Milk nor Yogurt (Jain, 2005), where an older adult widow from India decides to return to her village in India after 40 years in the United States; however, she soon realizes her exposure to America no longer enables her to identify with her in India and she has become the other. Although some transnationals seek out their countrymen to maintain their links to home, others make conscious efforts to avoid such ethnic centric groups, primarily because they have forged their own identity, that of the global citizen. It is here that we need to discuss the role of immigration because not all immigrants have the luxury of being able to shuttle between home and host. Immigration The circumstances under which individuals migrate determine their transnational ties to their home country, depending on their political, social, or economic status. Motivation for emigration is based on two underlying drivers. One, as in the case of the labor immigrants after World War II, is to make a better life for their families. The other motivations for emigration are individual lifestyle mobility and career opportunities. The latter group of immigrants may be better educated and come from middle-class families and may provide reverse financial aid to their immigrant families (Foner, 2000). However, the status of immigrants impacts their mobility of travel between their home and host countries. Those that are the victims of wars, persecutions, natural disasters, and are provided refugee status are restricted in their interactions with their families overseas. For instance, in terms of family members visiting their kin in the host there are discriminatory policies and bilateral agreements that affect the length of stay of family members. For those who have sought political asylum and refugees considered at risk for over staying countries, the visa restrictions are more severe, such as the Bosnians in Australia who cannot visit their home country and whose parents are prevented from visiting. …

This study examines whether and to what extent transnational ties with the home country influence female marriage migrants' depressive mood and suicidal ideation in South Korea. We analyzed the multicultural adolescent panel survey (2011-2018), which included multicultural adolescents born to a foreign-born parent. We adopted fixed-effects ordered logistic regression models for eight time periods. While suicidal ideation increased over time, no change in depressive mood was found among female marriage migrants. The inflow transnational ties was negatively associated with depressive mood and suicidal ideation. The outflow transnational ties did not significantly predict depressive mood and suicidal ideation. Supporting female marriage migrants to maintain transnational ties with their home country could improve their mental health. More policy support is also essential for vulnerable female marriage migrants with limited human and social capital. Future studies need to expand the impact of other types of transnational ties on mental health among immigrants in Korea.

Background Migrant families’ transnational ties may contribute to their hardships and/or may be a source of resiliency. A care approach that acknowledges these transnational ties may foster a positive identity and give coherence to experiences. We conducted an integrative review to determine if there is evidence that health and social services supporting migrant families with young children consider transnational ties during care with these families. Methods We searched 15 databases to identify relevant literature including empirical research and discussion papers reporting on a health or social program, service, intervention or care experience of migrant families during early childhood (pregnancy to age five) in a Western country (i.e., Canada, US, Europe or Australia). Information regarding if and how the intervention/service/program/care addressed transnationalism, were extracted and synthesized. Results Over 34,000 records were screened; 296 articles met inclusion criteria. Most literature was from the US. Care, programs and interventions examined included prenatal classes, doula support, maternity care, postpartum home visits, breastfeeding support, nutrition and feeding counseling, and parenting and early childcare programs. There is evidence that care-providers empathize and offer information on family reunification processes for families dealing with separation from loved ones and are open to and accommodate cultural traditions (e.g., feeding and parenting practices) originating from the home country; otherwise there is little evidence that transnational ties are addressed during care. Conclusions Significant knowledge gaps remain regarding whether and how care-providers’ take into account transnational ties, including distance care-giving of children or elderly, use of health services abroad, and receipt of advice and support from family back home, which may affect their relationships with families and/or the effectiveness of their interventions. Key messages Significant knowledge gaps remain regarding whether and how care-providers’ take into account transnational ties in early chilldhood care. More research is needed on transnationalism and the health and social care of migrant families.

The paper explores how integration of return migrants into the labour market of their home country is influenced by the migration experience – does it give an advantage to returnees? Migration literature tends to focus on individual level factors such as human capital acquired abroad, to explain the success of the integration of returnees while somewhat neglecting the importance of the environment in their home country. This paper demonstrates that such structural factors as information asymmetry between a potential employer and a potential employee (in this case job-seeking returnee) as well as the perception of migration experience in the home country’s labour market should be also taken into account. The paper draws on an empirical study of the Lithuanian case. Consequently, the return migrants are defined as individuals who left Lithuania to reside permanently abroad for a period of at least one year after 1990 but were living permanently in Lithuania when the research was carried out. The main data sources of the research are three representative surveys carried out in 2013: a Lithuanian population survey (N = 1930), a survey of migrants who have returned to live in Lithuania (N = 804), and a survey of Lithuanian employers (N = 1000)52. The research revealed that almost all return migrants have acquired valuable knowledge and skills while abroad, which they expect to use in advancing their careers in Lithuania. As many as eight out of 10 migrants who have returned to live in Lithuania said that while abroad they improved some of their skills. Yet the returnees, in assessing whether the migration experience helped them in their employment in Lithuania, frequently stated that their emigration experience had no effect or even thought that it was a disadvantage and that their new knowledge and skills are undervalued in Lithuania. Correspondingly, over 60% of respondent employers indicated that migration experience would have no effect on their choice of employee, and one in ten employers stated that this would be a disadvantage. As could have been expected, there exists some heterogeneity in assessments of benefits of migration experience. For example, employers are relatively more positive about the experience gained abroad doing skilled work and less positive about doing unskilled work. Companies linked to other countries through their capital, market and business relations are also relatively more inclined to opt for returning migrants. However, it should be noted that more than half of employers do not view even skilled work abroad positively, and most of internationally oriented companies when hiring a new employee would choose one with work experience and education acquired in Lithuania rather than abroad. The paper argues that an important factor for ignoring the experience of returning migrants in the labour market is a somewhat unfavourable attitude towards return migrants and their migration experience present in the Lithuanian society and among employers. More than half of employers in Lithuania and almost half of the population of Lithuania agree with the statement that usually those who have failed abroad return to Lithuania. So, return is like a signal of failure, and employers who support this opinion are more likely to assess the migration experience as a disadvantage rather than an advantage. Thus, in order to better understand the processes of return migration and integration of returnees, attention must be paid to whether the home country’s labour market is returnee-friendly or unfriendly. Regardless of how much human capital return migrants bring from abroad, the successful integration of returnees is unlikely if their migration experience is not considered as an asset by the home country’s labour market. The returnee-unfriendly environment leads not only to the loss of potential benefits of human capital, but also to the unsuccessful reintegration of returnees and, eventually, to their repeat migration. Therefore, the Lithuanian migration policy which aims mainly at encouraging return migration, instead of focusing largely on the migrants themselves and their migration decisions, should devote much more attention to the integration process of returnees and include measures for making labour market more returnee-friendly.

Italian Diasporic Studies: The Then and Now

Recent work on transnationalism provides evidence to support the argument that transnational ties to the home country and integration into the host state are not mutually exclusive processes (Levitt and Glick-Schiller, 2004). Moreover, connections to the home country attenuate over time and by the third generation immigrants are usually fully integrated into the receiving country. Given that some of the existing transnational ties are encouraged and facilitated by the home country, critics of sending states' diaspora engagement activities argue that their promotion of ongoing transborder connections limits immigrants' integration into the host state. The case of Mexico shows that there are stated and unstated objectives in the state's diaspora engagement policies, including the promotion of the government's political and economic interests, the need to maintain its legitimacy at home and abroad, and the interest in facilitating and securing remittance flows. But since the 1990s the programs developed by the Mexican government directed to migrants in the U.S. also seek to improve their living conditions in the host country. An issue that requires further exploration and is addressed in this paper is whether and how the services that Mexico provides to emigrants through its 50 consulates and the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME) contribute to or limit migrants' process of integration in the United States. Such services include, among others, preventive health care and medical referrals, adult education programs, and leadership development. This paper examines the effects of the Mexican government's programs on the integration of Mexican immigrants based on interviews in various U.S. cities. It also examines the response in the U.S. to the Mexican government's active role in this regard.

This chapter focuses on the construction of Hindu religious communities in the United States and France. It explores the processes involving the representation and transformation of Hinduism across two national contexts with distinct migration histories, conceptions of nationhood, and understandings of religion. While a growing body of scholarly work addresses the Hindu diaspora in the United States, little attention has been paid to the Hindu presence in France. Drawing on data from web-based sources including social media sites and religious organizations, we analyze whether the experiences of Hindus in France and the United States transcend the specificities of their national and local contexts.

While the search for (better) employment and the uneven distribution of wealth are among the principal triggers of migration worldwide, migration is often discussed as a humanitarian emergency, a social and a security problem, but rarely as a labour issue. This paper aims to foster debate on the interconnectedness of migration and labour history. Re-reading migration and labour history by exploring their interconnectedness is crucial to overcoming Eurocentric and nation-state centric approaches to labour and migration history. This paper discusses the findings of papers presented at two events organised by the ELHN Working Group Labour Migration History in 2021. The first part suggests new lines of inquiry which critically reassess Western-centric understandings and experiences of labour migration during the Cold War. The second part argues in favour of cross-disciplinary study of relations between migration, workers, and the state firmly contextualised as part of global processes of change.

Teaching and Learning Guide for: Framing Latina/o Immigration, Education, and Activism