Gendered Matters: Undocumented Mexican Mothers in the Current Policy Context

Abstract

Feminist theorists have exchanged an exclusively gendered analysis for an intersectional lens that accounts for the multiple marginalized locations occupied by individuals in a hierarchy. This article uses both intersectional and feminist standpoint theories to analyze the findings from a qualitative study of undocumented Mexican mothers’ strategies of attaining resources for their children in the current policy context. Standpoint theory foregrounds the voices of undocumented Mexican mothers, while intersectional analysis illuminates their multiple and interacting social locations. The findings that mothers accessed some needed resources but not others are analyzed to demonstrate the relevance of intersectional analysis to policy development and practice.

Refugees, asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants and the experience of parenthood: a synthesis of the qualitative literature

“…Several studies examined specific parenting topics including: navigating the healthcare system [ 101 – 105 ] or other services [ 19 , 23 , 88 , 92 , 95 ]; decision-making associated with vaccinations [ 106 ], breastfeeding [ 107 – 109 ], nutrition [ 110 – 113 ] and oral health [ 114 , 115 ]; interacting with schools and expectations regarding education [ 49 , 89 , 96 , 104 , 116 – 137 ]; maintaining traditions, beliefs, and languages [ 45 , 74 , 78 , 84 , 138 – 145 ]; raising teenagers [ 43 , 44 , 122 , 124 , 146 – 148 ]; and socializing and disciplining children, including involvement with child protection services [ 149 – 156 ]. Other studies had broader foci including: acculturation/bi-cultural development and parenting [ 20 , 38 , 44 , 57 , 58 , 143 , 144 , 148 , 157 , 158 ]; the effect of migration on relationships between parents and children [ 19 , 20 , 38 , 39 , 60 , 62 , 147 , 148 , 159 , 160 ], the extended family [ 44 ] and community [ 41 ]; strengths and coping to overcome parenting stressors [ 19 , 42 , 43 , 52 , 53 , …”

“…Those without status lived in fear of deportation and separation from children and family [ 21 , 60 , 72 , 87 – 89 , 91 – 94 , 99 , 141 , 147 , 152 , 157 ]; parents were in the difficult position of having to discuss their precarious status with their children and to prepare for the outcome if they were ever deported [ 85 , 90 , 164 ]. Not having status restricted their movement and interactions [ 21 , 49 , 50 , 54 , 72 , 87 , 88 , 90 , 92 , 93 , 95 , 99 , 105 , 133 , 134 , 141 , 147 , 165 ] and adversely impacted their safety (since migrants would not seek help, including for family violence) and had profound effects on their mental well-being [ 72 , 94 , 99 , 100 , 102 ]. Undocumented families were frequently ineligible for services and/or would not seek services fearing that this action might affect their future status [ 21 , 56 , 72 , 87 , 88 , 92 , 105 , 151 , 152 , 157 , 165 ].…”

“…Not having status restricted their movement and interactions [ 21 , 49 , 50 , 54 , 72 , 87 , 88 , 90 , 92 , 93 , 95 , 99 , 105 , 133 , 134 , 141 , 147 , 165 ] and adversely impacted their safety (since migrants would not seek help, including for family violence) and had profound effects on their mental well-being [ 72 , 94 , 99 , 100 , 102 ]. Undocumented families were frequently ineligible for services and/or would not seek services fearing that this action might affect their future status [ 21 , 56 , 72 , 87 , 88 , 92 , 105 , 151 , 152 , 157 , 165 ].…”

“…Migrant parents in almost all studies described resettlement challenges (financial, housing, employment, access to services) [ 19 , 23 – 25 , 38 , 39 , 42 , 47 – 50 , 52 – 54 , 56 , 60 , 63 , 65 , 69 , 70 , 72 , 73 , 75 , 76 , 81 – 83 , 88 , 89 , 91 , 92 , 99 , 103 , 108 , 112 , 114 , 119 , 125 , 127 – 129 , 133 , 139 , 149 , 155 , 158 , 161 ], which left them feeling overwhelmed. Discrimination and exclusion, especially due to their migration status, were frequently described as issues [ 24 , 25 , 46 , 50 , 54 , 55 , 58 , 60 , 68 , 73 , 74 , 76 , 87 , 88 , 90 – 93 , 96 , 100 , 119 , 127 , 143 , 147 , 149 , 156 , ...…”

Public health policy and social support for immigrant mothers raising disabled children in Canada

“…O'Mahoney and Donnelly (2010) found that mothers negotiate their status in a way that immigrant women without children do not. For example, in order to work they need childcare, which may be unaffordable (Beliveau 2011) or for which they may be ineligible.…”