Portraying Migrant Families in Academic Publications: Naming and Framing

Abstract

In this chapter the authors set out to examine how migrant families are named and framed in academic publications by Lithuanian researchers published from 2004 to 2017, available in Lithuanian and international academic databases. The authors aim to disclose how Lithuanian academics perceive the change of family boundaries and fluidity of family relations in the context of global migration, and how the meanings of ‘change’ are used within academic publications that have sought to define the migrant family life as ‘troubling’. The analysis of publications presented in this chapter was carried out from January to March 2018. It formed a sub-study of the research project ‘Global Migration and Lithuanian Family: Family Practices, Circulation of Care, and Return Strategies’ (2017–2019), funded by the Lithuanian Research Council. The analysis has revealed that Lithuanian researchers portray migrant families as extended in space, liquid, networked, survived, but unsecure because of ongoing risks as well as experiencing ‘losses’ or/ and ‘gains’. The researchers conclude that portraits presented by the academics are framed by the family ideology, while naming of migrant families highly rely on the images of ‘how a family should be’.

Representations of transnational childhoods and childhoods abroad in Lithuanian media discourse

“…This article extends prior research by demonstrating how some transnational childhoods are deemed to be more troubling than others in the public "imaginary" (cf. Juozeliūnienė et al, 2020b;Smart, 2007). The findings reveal that depictions of transnational childhoods are influenced by social class, with families having fewer resources more likely to attract media attention.…”

“…These imaginaries are shaped by institutionalised understandings of the troubling nature of migrant families (with locally situated families considered as the norm) and varying expectations on "how a family should be" (cf. Juozeliūnienė et al, 2020b) depending on the country contexts. It has been acknowledged that transnational families are often subject to scrutiny in Lithuanian public discourse (see: Juozeliūnienė & Budginaitė, 2018) and elsewhere (see: Duque-Paramo, 2013; Gu et al, 2022;Phoenix, 2019).…”

“…Findings reveal that parental choices are scrutinised for moving abroad, reinforcing the depiction of locally rooted families (remaining in the country of origin) as the norm, transnational parenthood as "irresponsible" and transnational childhoods as "troubling" (cf. Juozeliūnienė et al, 2020b;Juozeliūnienė & Budginaitė, 2018). Moreover, being raised in a bi-national or multi-national family is inherently constructed as less "appropriate", categorising the childhoods in bi-or multi-national households as inherently problematic.…”

“…Transnational parenting is at the core of debates about the moral imperative of being responsible parents (especially mothers) and fulfilling family responsibilities (see: Duque-Paramo, 2013;Gu et al, 2022;Phoenix, 2019). The review of Lithuanian academic publications between 2004 and 2017 (Juozeliūnienė et al, 2020a;2020b), shows that when negative framing is used in the media, scripts such as disrupting family relations, abandoning children, misinterpreting parental responsibilities, putting one's own needs first instead of prioritising the needs of the child are employed.…”