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Families with an immigrant background are often described in the literature as vulnerable; at the same time, migration can turn out to be a familiar experience characterized by creative potentials, perhaps unexpected resources that can be relied upon to cope with critical issues and daily life in the new context. Adopting this twofold perspective, we will explore the issue of informal social support available to immigrant families, referring in particular to insights from an ethnographic research with mothers of Arab-Muslim origin living in Milan (Italy). Social support network appears quite limited, although there are less visible but equally important forms of support. Focusing on the experiences of social isolation, the relationship with the partner, the contacts with fellow countrymen/women and locals, we will highlight both the critical issues and the potentials. Based on these aspects, it will be possible to give some interesting indications for the implementation of pedagogical initiatives to support parenthood culturally sensitive and capable of enhancing the existing resources.

Drawing on the case of Taiwan, one of the major destinations for marriage migrants in Asia, this article examines how the host state utilizes shifting discursive frames for Southeast Asian immigrants and their children to establish the regime of marital citizenship and achieve the project of nation building. I characterise the earlier regime as 'reproductive assimilation', which aimed to manage the potential risk that immigrant motherhood brings to 'population quality' through assimilation-oriented projects of monitoring childbirth and childrearing. The recent turn toward the 'New Southbound Policy' shifts the cultural frame toward 'neoliberal multiculturalism' by reframing the ethnic difference of the 'new second generation' as a market asset for globalised national development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explores Iraqi women's mothering strategies for protecting, nurturing, and training their child, as well as how they use different approaches to (re)construct feelings of belonging during the process of resettlement. It is qualitative in design and based on individual interviews as well as focus groups discussions with a total of 27 women. Narrative method has inspired the analysis. The results show a child-centred motherhood with everyday practices aimed at creating a sense of safety and belonging for the child. Belonging to the family is central. The child's societal and future belonging is connected to educational achievement, with prospects of employment and upward mobility. Accordingly, the mothers apply strategies aimed at promoting such a life trajectory. However, aspirations for belonging in the future can sometimes conflict with belonging at the present. In addition, striving to create belonging for the child can be in conflict with the parents' sense of belonging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]