Seeking identity: the transborder lives of mainland Chinese families with children born in Hong Kong

Between 2001 and 2013, Hong Kong regulations permitted pregnant women from mainland China to travel to Hong Kong to deliver their babies. In this article, based on 30 in‐depth interviews, I explore the transborder lives and identities of these mainland Chinese families who, motivated by cost conside...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global networks (Oxford) 2016-10, Vol.16 (4), p.437-452
Main Author: XIYUAN, LI
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Children
Citizenship
Cost-benefit analysis
Families & family life
Females
HONG KONG
IDENTIFICATION
IDENTITY
Infants
Kinship networks
MAINLAND CHINA
Management
Networks
Plural societies
Pregnancy
Social networks
TRANSBORDER FAMILY
Travel
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Summary:Between 2001 and 2013, Hong Kong regulations permitted pregnant women from mainland China to travel to Hong Kong to deliver their babies. In this article, based on 30 in‐depth interviews, I explore the transborder lives and identities of these mainland Chinese families who, motivated by cost considerations, citizenship and anticipated benefits for their children, chose to give birth to their babies in Hong Kong. In some cases, family networks providing flexible residential practices and family care, supported these transborder activities. However, the complexities of transborder life reveal the diverse ‘identifications’ within Hong Kong society and mainland families. Because neither administration totally accepts them, they are not full members of either society and so the identities they form are both plural and fragmented.
ISSN:1470-2266
1471-0374
DOI:10.1111/glob.12118