111 lines
3.7 KiB
YAML
111 lines
3.7 KiB
YAML
abstract: 'The research presented in this paper emerges from the Immigrant Work
|
|
|
|
Strategies and Networks Project. The project focused on the experiences
|
|
|
|
of Ghanaian, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and British-born respondents
|
|
|
|
(both male and female) in London, between 2004 and 2006, using
|
|
|
|
questionnaires and in-depth interviews. In this article, our goal is to
|
|
|
|
explore the role of imperfect information in the immigrant settlement
|
|
|
|
process and destination society policies. More specifically, we examine
|
|
|
|
the nature of information used in two interlinked processes: 1)
|
|
|
|
information used by the destination society to debate, design, and
|
|
|
|
implement policy; 2) information used by immigrants to develop work
|
|
|
|
strategies. We aim to demonstrate that a great deal of information
|
|
|
|
immigrants and the destination society utilise, in making their
|
|
|
|
decisions, is often based on the generation, circulation and
|
|
|
|
reproduction of myths. Although migration myths of destination society
|
|
|
|
members and immigrants are often conflicting, they seem to be reproduced
|
|
|
|
within a shared regime of myth-making. In an attempt to analyse the
|
|
|
|
dynamics and inter-linkages of the myth-making regime, we offer two new
|
|
|
|
concepts, i.e. ``hegemonic myths{''''} and ``opportunity myths{''''}. Our
|
|
|
|
discussion on the construction and circulation of myths presents new
|
|
|
|
opportunities to reinterpret the immigrant settlement process. We
|
|
|
|
conclude that while hegemonic myths about migrants in the public arena
|
|
|
|
are rarely affirmative, opportunity myths constructed by immigrants are
|
|
|
|
far more complex. They can both reproduce inequalities or provide a
|
|
|
|
basis for immigrant empowerment. Hegemonic myths, for example, have the
|
|
|
|
potential to focus the debate on specific groups, or immigrants in
|
|
|
|
general, where they can become either heroes or, more likely, villains.
|
|
|
|
We argue that opportunity myths do play a major role in the perpetuation
|
|
|
|
of migration to the UK. The inequalities and exploitation experienced by
|
|
|
|
immigrants are essential in the circulation of opportunity myths as
|
|
|
|
immigrants attempt to maintain impressions of the good life in the UK.
|
|
|
|
Ironically, immigration myths, the erosion of social rights and ongoing
|
|
|
|
discrimination contribute to the continual flow of incoming migrants. In
|
|
|
|
other words, the more rights are eroded and the more difficult it
|
|
|
|
becomes for immigrants to succeed, the more immigrants feel compelled to
|
|
|
|
construct narratives of success. Unless migration policies deal with the
|
|
|
|
right to work, social rights of immigrants and with the elimination of
|
|
|
|
discrimination and racism, policy and public discourse are likely to
|
|
|
|
lead to unintended results.'
|
|
affiliation: 'Vasta, E (Corresponding Author), Macquarie Univ, CRSI, N Ryde, NSW 2109,
|
|
Australia.
|
|
|
|
Vasta, Ellie, Macquarie Univ, CRSI, N Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
|
|
|
|
Erdemir, Aykan, Middle E Tech Univ, Dept Sociol, TR-06531 Ankara, Turkey.'
|
|
author: Vasta, Ellie and Erdemir, Aykan
|
|
author-email: 'ellie.vasta@mq.edu.au
|
|
|
|
aerdemir@metu.edu.tr'
|
|
author_list:
|
|
- family: Vasta
|
|
given: Ellie
|
|
- family: Erdemir
|
|
given: Aykan
|
|
da: '2023-09-28'
|
|
files: []
|
|
issn: 0013-9998
|
|
journal: ERDE
|
|
keywords: Myths; Myth-making; Immigrants; Employment; London
|
|
language: English
|
|
number: 1-2, SI
|
|
number-of-cited-references: '40'
|
|
pages: 15-29
|
|
papis_id: 6f0034c2b0dac7691ab952aeffe95b59
|
|
ref: Vasta2010workstrategies
|
|
times-cited: '1'
|
|
title: Work Strategies of Immigrants and the Construction and Circulation of Myths
|
|
in London
|
|
type: article
|
|
unique-id: WOS:000284596000003
|
|
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
|
|
usage-count-since-2013: '9'
|
|
volume: '141'
|
|
web-of-science-categories: Geography; Geography, Physical; Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
|
|
year: '2010'
|