Being at Home in a Global Society: A Model for Families' Mobility and Immigration Decisions

• Published in: Journal of comparative family studies 2001-10, Vol.32 (4), p.627-645
• Main Author: SETTLES, BARBARA H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attachment; Capital costs; Children; Communities; Decision Making; Families; Family; Fashion models; Globalization; Group Identity; Homes; Houses; Human migration; Hunter gatherers; Immigration; Immigration policy; Industrialized nations; Migration; Nation states; Older adults; Residence; Retirement; Social networking; Social networks; Society; Travel
• ISSN: 0047-2328; 1929-9850
• DOI: 10.3138/jcfs.32.4.627

Home as a concept has several dimensions and aspects of theoretical importance. From a family and individual perspective "being at home" can mean a variety of different statuses and experiences. In the global society the question arises as to how families and their members are able to negotiate establishing a home and having a place as well as group identity. Understanding of mobility includes decision making as both an individual and a family activity that moves one from being a potential migrant or immigrant into an actual one, and from a temporary worker to a long term resident. Clashes of interest and different perceptions of opportunity are important at different points in the process. The globalization of the economic system and the growth of world political and non-governmental agencies and movements have challenged the way macro-systems are understood. These macroprocesses are mediated and interpreted at the micro level by individuals and their families. Two aspects at this micro level are newly developed in this model for family mobility and migration decisions in this model: - The relative attachment of families to place and culture and how their worldviews influence their negotiation skills and their understanding of mobility or stability options. - The many inputs from family and social networks at different points in the mobility decision making process and its implementation. Home and family are altered in the dynamic process of decision-making and the resulting new situation may be evaluated by families and society around the critical social values. In this context assimilation, integration, or continued multiple loyalties are not simple policy and program plans, but familial choices in their search for a secure and satisfactory survival of family and home. Il y a plusieurs dimensions et plusieurs aspects d'importatice thé orique qui se trouvent attaché s au concept du foyer. Du point de vue de l'individu et de la famille, le sens de "être cliez soi" dépend d'expériences et de statuts différents. Ce concept pose, dans une société globale, une question complexe: coinitient est-ce que les familles et ses membres créent un foyer, un chez soi, et comment pourraient-ils s'identifier comme appartenant à un lieu aussi bien qu'à un groupe social? Le processus qui mène à une décision, et qui transforme un immigrant possible en immigrant réel, est en réalité une activité tant familiale qu'individuelle. Ce processus aide à faire comprendre les sens att