Reconstructing Mothering among Korean Immigrant Working Class Women in the United States

Abstract

Based upon in-depth interviews with 22 working Korean immigrant mothers of adolescent children in Philadelphia, we examined their mothering practices in the contexts of working outside of the home to meet the economic demands of their families. We used Strauss and Corbin’s grounded theory approach in order to guide our data collection and analysis. We found that mothering practices are negotiated and reconstructed in the process of their acculturation, and further are modified depending upon the length of residence in the United States. Mothering practices of recent immigrant women in this study are centered around the economic survival of their families. They are no longer practicing staying-at-home-motherhood since immigration but have become poor working mothers, who must prioritize work for themselves and their families. Mothers delegate their housework to their children, especially to their daughters. On the other hand, mothering practices of long-term immigrant women are centered around providing maximum support for their children, a minority in the United States to enable them; to become socially competent for the present and for the future. They fully utilize their time and relationships within their families and communities to achieve this end. This study shows that mothering practices are constructed and continually negotiated in the immigration contexts where Korean immigrant mothers and their families are located. The significance of the study lies in its capturing the complexity of mothering and working experiences in the acculturation process of Korean immigrant working class women and their families.

Capturing Capital to Negotiate the Intersections of Motherhood and Work

“…For example, recently immigrated Korean women demonstrate the flexibility of the construction of mothering in their lives as they transition from stay‐at‐home mothers in Korea to working mothers in the United States (Kim et al ). Further demonstrating the fluidity of this construct, Kim et al () found that the work that Korean women consider “mothering work” has changed within the context of resettlement, with children taking on more responsibility for tasks that were previously considered “mothering work.” Segura () offers us another example of a different formulation of motherhood and work in her research on Chicana and Mexicana mothers in the United States who view motherhood differently from one another. Chicanas viewed motherhood as something distinct from employment, working only if necessary, whereas Mexicanas viewed motherhood as including employment.…”

Immigrants, Immigration, and Sociology: Reflecting on the State of the Discipline

“…This shift in perspective highlights patterns of inequality and stratification that are central to a sociological lens. Thus, sociologists who have focused on immigrant families have noted the effects of structural constraints, such as high levels of poverty (Crosnoe 2007; Hernandez, Denton, and Macartney 2007) on parenting, on mothering practices (Kim et al. 2006), and on broader patterns of demographic change (Hernandez 2005).…”

Hwabyungand Depressive Symptoms among Korean Immigrants

“…When immigrating to the United States, Korean immigrants often experience a downward economic slide. Their professional experiences and educational backgrounds attained in Korea are not often recognized (Kim, Conway-Turner, Sherif-Trask, & Woolfolk, 2006). More often than not, Korean immigrants have to restart their careers while struggling with language barriers and limited financial means.…”