Migrant Women, Social Networks and Motherhood: The Experiences of Irish Nurses in Britain

Abstract

Although there is a growing interest in female migration, little attention has been paid to how migrant women access and sustain social networks, both locally and spatially dispersed, over time. Social networks theories have much to offer an analysis of migrants' social ties and interpersonal relationships. However, while there is a lively interest in transnational networks and global chains of care, many migration studies have simply taken for granted the existence of post-migration networks. Drawing on a case study of Irish nurses in Britain, this ar ticle aims to contribute to a better understanding of how migrant women access and utilize local ties post-migration. While transnational networks may challenge the equation between spatial proximity and social interaction, this ar ticle argues that we should not overlook the impor tance of propinquity particularly in terms of day-to-day practical suppor t and local knowledge.