Mothers’ Dreams, Children Realities: The Case of Uprooted Families from South Lebanon

Abstract

In this exploratory qualitative study, 15 mothers and 18 adolescents who, as family members of the South Lebanon Army, were uprooted from that country and now living in Israel, were interviewed separately. The mothers described their image of the adaptive adult, which stressed the positive values of loyalty to the family, orientation toward the group, respect, and acceptance of hierarchy and guided their child-rearing goals and socialization. The children shared similar attitudes about the importance of family loyalty and orientation toward the group, but differed from their mothers with regard to the issues of respect and obedience. We discussed the notion of "liminality," to further our understanding of the families in transition and suggest how it applies to the uprooted members of South Lebanon army. We suggest that different time orientations and contextual factors influence the participating mothers' image of the adaptive adult and the degree to which their children accept it. Implications for research and interventions are also explored.

Being young and on the move in South Africa: how ‘waithood’ exacerbates HIV risks and disrupts the success of current HIV prevention interventions

“…Consistent with the existing literature, waithood was considered a period 'between' (Crawford & Novak, 2006;Douglas, 1966;Gaur & Patnaik, 2011;Malksoo, 2012;Thomas, 2005). Whilst we do not yet have the longitudinal temporal data to confirm or refute whether progression beyond waithood is possible in this context, our data suggest a theoretical risk of the prolonged nature of the waithood statecompounded by sequelae of the defined risks (Dabbagh et al, 2016).…”

“…Persistent buoyant expectations for the future appear central to migrant identity and serve a protective purpose in maintenance of hope. The crucial importance of this has been described amongst refugee communities similarly displaced from their location of origin, for whom extended periods spent traversing intractable circumstances may be rendered tolerable in light of distant visions of a settled future (Dabbagh et al, 2016;Gaur & Patnaik, 2011). Thus, the dualities of their lived experience of acquiescence and central narrative of momentum co-exist in a necessary sense of tension.…”

You Have to Start from Scratch and You Need Someone by Your Side”: Perspectives of Parents and Teachers on Immigrant Students’ Adaptation to School

“…The pressures of immigration may affect family relations and increase conflict (Dwairy and Dor, ; Mirsky, ; Soutullo et al, ; Rasmussen et al, ) because of cultural gaps between generations regarding significant values and developmental goals. Cultural transition may challenge the image of an “adaptive adult” held by immigrant parents (Dabbagh et al, , Roer‐Stroer & Rosenthal, ). This image, which is largely based on the traits considered adaptive in the parents’ home‐culture and guides their child‐rearing practices, may differ from the image accepted in the host society.…”

Perspectives on Filial Responsibility Among Uprooted Families From South Lebanon

“…Although both the men and women had their existing lives disrupted, the men's roles shifted most dramatically, while women's traditional domestic roles carried over to the new country in addition to their employment options. Jobs such as sewing machine operators and food service workers were more readily available for women than the jobs that the men usually sought (Dabbagh, Roer‐Strier, & Kurman, ). Thus, in many cases the wife became the breadwinner and supported the family (Dabbagh, Roer‐Strier, & Kurman, ).…”