Transnational Families
Describe the shifting of gender subjectivity in migrant fathers and mothers?
Men in Mexico will typically rely on the women to cook and clean the house. When these Mexican men are part of H2A Visa programs, they have to do these duties themselves. The men may actually become more appreciative of the work the women do. (Schmalzbauer, 2015)
Men still want to be the disciplinary figures to their children while they are away. (Schmalzbauer, 2015)
Fear of infidelity goes both ways but in this week's article, it was more the man fearing that the woman is going to cheat. (Schmalzbauer, 2015)
Mothers face judgement about their mothering. For example, Mexican mothers have cultural symbols of such as the virgen de Guadelope that represent good gathering. La Llorona that represent bad mothering. (Hondagneu-Sotelo and Avila, pg. 551)
Compare and the contrast the differences between undocumented migrant workers and workers on a work visa?
Undocumented workers risk their lives when they come over. They have more flexibility with where they work. They risk deportation. They make more money than people here on a work visa. They can't travel back and forth to see their family as they like.
Migrant workers on visa come legally but risk overstaying their visa and risk going into the "illegal" status. One thing that has it's pros and cons is the fact that they work 8 months out of the year and get to go home and see their families. However, they don't make any money during that time.
(Schmalzbauer, 2015)
Wealthy and immigrant mothers both abandon the widespread idea that biological mothers should raise their own children? Describe how it plays out differently for both types of woman?
Wealthy mothers have the luxury of hiring a profession in order to in become more economically successful and the migrant workers have to hire either family members and non professionals to watch their children and at the same time in some cases aren't able to see their children when they are done working. (Hondagneu-Sotelo and Avila, 1997)
Collectivist and individualist mothering is a difference. It is very common for Latina cultures to (Hondagneu-Sotelo and Avila, 1997, pg. 559)
What does gendered geographies of power mean? Provide examples from past readings.
"...they exercise their gender agency within the geographic and temporal limits of their lives." (Schmalzbauer, 2015, pg. 213)
Throughout the readings, what are the different ways in which immigrant groups show solidarity? Provide specific examples.
(Solari, Fish, Kirbria, and etc)
In this week's reading, we learned that the Vietnamese women have women's social groups that protect them from domestic abuse and unpleasant behaviors from their husbands. The women get involved in the family matter to try to deter the men from domestic abuse. (Kirbria, 1990)
How does transnational motherhood contradicts both dominant white Middle class models of motherhood?
Hondagneu-Sotelo states that motherhood is not a biologically predetermined but historically and socially constructed. The middle-class model of mothering is predicated on mother-child isolation in the home, while women of color have often worked with their children in close proximity. (Hondagneu-Sotelo and Avila, 1997, pg. 551)
How do migrant fathers negotiate masculinity?
Men in this week's article migrated because it was accepted as expected as a symbol as masculinity. They are viewed as the breadwinner in the family.
Remittances mostly go to education and consumption but also home improvement because it is a symbol of good fathering and social status. (Schmalzbauer, 2015, pg. 214)
Based on the readings from the semester, what suggestions can you make to inform policy makers of the reasons immigrants come to the United States? (Think Saksia Sassens' World Systems Theory)
Opinion based discussion
Describe the importance of Standpoint Theory in the global discussion of migration?
The person in the marginalized position must be the one who critiques the group in the position of power.
Intersectionality––systems of oppression interact with each other. (taken from class notes)