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