Transnational Family Ties of Immigrants in the Netherlands

Abstract Inspired by recent efforts in the United States to quantify the degree of transnational ties that immigrants possess, this article explores and analyses the prevalence and determinants of transnational family ties of immigrants in the Netherlands. Using data from a representative survey of four immigrant groups in the Netherlands, this paper also aims to fill the gap in knowledge regarding the effects of incorporation into an immigrant’s host society on transnational family ties. Findings show that while the vast majority of immigrants with relatives in the country of origin have frequent contact with these relatives, only a third of respondents contribute to the livelihood of family members in the homeland. Incorporation characteristics show distinct patterns over different types of involvement. While incorporation variables have a negative effect on the frequency of contact, they show little effect on remittances

Reciprocity Revisited:Give and Take in Dutch and Immigrant Families

The idea that reciprocity is the basic principle underlying forms of social organization, among which the family, is as old as classical anthropology and sociology. The essence of the principle is that giving prompts receiving, thereby creating forms of ongoing exchange and durable cooperation. Reciprocity has been studied both as a factor affecting family life and as an outcome of family life (e.g., Dwyer, Lee & Jankowski, 1994; Dwyer & Miller, 1990). Only a few studies focus on reciprocity itself by investigating the various forms reciprocal exchanges among kin can take (Hogan, Eggebeen, & Clogg, 1993; Sarkisian & Gerstel, 2004). As yet it is unclear to what extent giving support in families is 'answered' by receiving support or remains one-sided. Who are the main givers within families and who are the principal receivers? Are there any cultural differences in patterns of reciprocity within the family, as the work of Kagitçibasi ( 1996) suggests? These questions will be addressed in this article. Prior to discussing some modem views and findings about reciprocity in families we will pay attention to classical theory on reciprocity, since it contains the building blocks on which all later work on reciprocity is based (Komter, 2005)

Ethnic diversity in intergenerational solidarity

The Dutch population is ageing, including the populations of immigrants who moved to the Netherlands several decades ago. As a consequence, the number of elderly immigrants will increase sharply in the coming years. Immigrants are likely to experience old age differently from native older people, and to have different beliefs and attitudes about their children's obligations. At the same time, adult children might have different beliefs about their obligations than their parents. However, little is known about ethnic and generational variations in these areas. In this dissertation, a comparative perspective on intergenerational solidarity in different ethnic groups in the Netherlands is offered. By systematically comparing different aspects of intergenerational solidarity among immigrants and Dutch natives, theoretical ideas about family decline in Western families and collectivist family ideals in immigrant families will be questioned. By focusing on immigrants who have parents in the country of origin, we add a transnational perspective to the study of intergenerational solidarity. Besides the native Dutch, this study includes immigrants and their children from the four largest immigrant groups in the Netherlands: Turks, Moroccans, Surinamese and Antilleans. A mixed-methods approach, combining in-depth qualitative data and large-scale quantitative data, is used and analyses are based on data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (NKPS). Results show that although ethnic differences in attitudes are large, differences in actual behaviour are less pronounced

Transnational families living between Africa and Europe

International migration and family life are frequently difficult to reconcile. Valentina Mazzucato, Djamila Schans, Kim Caarls, and Cris Beauchemin focus on three cases (the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and Senegal) and show how varied the solutions can be, with some families reunifying in the destination country, others back in the country of origin, and still others not reunifying at all but becoming instead “transnational families.” This article was also published on the INED website in English and in French