What Works? Family Influences on Occupational Aspirations among Descendants of Middle Eastern Immigrants on the Swedish Labour Market

Nordic Journal of Social Research

Nader Ahmadi¹  Pinar Aslan²  Eva Wikström³  Stefan Sjöberg⁴ 

[1] The Swedish Agency for Work Environment Expertise;Umeå UniversityUniversity of Gävle;Umeå University, Sweden;University of Gävle, Sweden;

关键词: labour market participation;    descendants of immigrants;    family relations;    social capital;    cultural capital;   

DOI  :  10.7577/njsr.2235

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In this article, we examine family influences on occupational aspirations among employed descendants of Middle Eastern immigrants. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with native-born descendants of Middle Eastern immigrants. We present and analyse their interpretations of their parents’ experiences and living conditions before, during and after migration and demonstrate how these interpretations shaped their own occupational aspirations. We discuss parents’ high expectations of their children in relation to ethnic-community valuations of educational and occupational achievements. These high expectations may increase the chances of social mobility but can also become a negative pressure, especially if parents set high standards but cannot help their children to meet those expectations. In these cases, older siblings who possess valuable knowledge of the educational system and labour market can function as important transferrers of resources.

【 授权许可】

Unknown