Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2022

Publication Title

Sociological Forum

Abstract

Using an integrated qualitative approach and semi-structured interviews with 32 second-generation Turkish parents in Germany, this study examines the parental concerns formed by assessing the value of children, which, in turn, influence return migration intentions. This study proposes that parents develop three main concerns in an attempt to maximize the value of their children: (1) socioeconomic, (2) assimilation, and (3) marriage concerns. Return migration intention itself turns into a parental investment by designating the home country as the final destination where these concerns can be resolved, and thus their children may reach their full potential for themselves and their families. This study suggests that in the context of migrant families, the value of children can be a potential predictor of return migration since it is subject to changes during the life course in response to the cultural, social, and economic contexts of the host and home countries.

Comments

Published in Sociological Forum by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Eastern Sociological Society. Available via doi: 10.1111/socf.12870.

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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