Risk Complexity—Culture and Identity in Migration: The Case of Ethiopian Jews

A Context‐Informed Perspective of Child Risk and Protection: Deconstructing Myths in the Risk Discourse

“…Social workers pointed to the educational system as being biased and overreporting Ethiopian children as at risk. Overt racism was indeed found in the interviews with education professionals, including blaming parents, their culture, and their “over‐sensitivity” to racism for putting children at risk (Engdau‐Vanda et al, 2020; Gatenio‐Kalush et al, 2020).…”

“…The context of racism and exclusion was found to be central in our studies of ethnic and racial communities but was less central in numerous Western definitions of child risk and protection. This context is of essential importance because it is also known to be related to (often unspoken) power relations between professionals and clients (Engdau‐Vanda et al, 2020; Gatenio‐Kalush et al, 2020; Whale et al, 2017). Our studies in the Ethiopian community in Israel exemplify the centrality of the context of racism and exclusion in such communities.…”

“…This leads to the establishment of hundreds of projects, special programs, and nonprofit organizations for children of Ethiopian origin that has become known as the “risk industry” (Engdau‐Vanda, 2019). All of the projects share a desire to “save” the Ethiopian community by facilitating its integration into Israeli society (Gatenio‐Kalush et al, 2020).…”