Turbulent Lives: Exploring the Cultural Meaning of Regional Youth Migration

Abstract

Migration is an important part of the lives of many young adults. In numerous areas around the world, and particularly in regional and remote areas, cultures have emerged where the migration of young adults is normalised and expected. While the impact of the migration of young adults on the areas they have left and have moved to has received considerable attention in both political and academic arenas, there is a need for more research that addresses the cultural meaning of migration and the importance of the migration process for young people themselves. The paper is based on two large research projects undertaken between 2000 and 2005, which focused on the experiences of migration of young adults in Tasmania, and includes data sourced from interviews and focus groups with young migrants as well as an analysis of media and policy documents. We discuss the ‘turbulent lives’ of young people in Tasmania, including the expectations and aspirations of young adults growing up in a culture in which migration is normalised and their experiences of leaving, and returning to, their childhood homes. These issues are considered in the context of recent theoretical debates surrounding the impact of mobility and attachment to place on the identities of migrants.

She leaves, he stays? Sex-selective migration in rural East Germany

“…Many young people have friends, acquaintances or family members who found it extremely difficult to enter the labor market even though they had excellent school leaving qualifications. 'Blocked' labor markets, job insecurity experienced by both family members and acquaintances and the perception that the rural East "has no future" have resulted in a youth migration culture (Wiest and Leibert, 2013), a particular social climate in which migration is normalized and expected by the youths' parents and their wider social networks (Easthope and Gabriel, 2008). This migration culture is probably reinforced by a high work-orientation in East Germany.…”

The impact after 50 years of a new medical education programme with a regional workforce mission

“…By providing 35.6% of the state's total medical workforce, the Tasmanian medical programme was the single largest primary medical qualification source for Tasmania. 7,8 Furthermore, the contribution of local graduates to the medical workforce outside of Hobart, particularly in the north-western region, is relatively small, particularly for specialties other than general practice. These data highlight the importance of the medical programme to Tasmania and suggest that the original mission has been successful.…”

“…Postgraduate specialty training is restricted in narrower specialties, but recently expanded to accommodate as interns all graduates seeking to remain in Tasmania (about 86 in 2017); 70 hospital-based vocational trainees and 36 general practice trainees. 8 On the other hand, Tasmania attracts retirees from other states, resulting in an almost bi-modal population distribution with relatively higher proportions of older people, 4 who might need more health care. 7 In common with other island states and nations, 'emigration' of young adults has become 'normalised', as they seek training and career opportunities that are either better or just different.…”

Becoming a migrant: aspirations of youths during their transition to adulthood in rural Mexico

“…Knowledge related to migration was shared within and across families and neighbouring communities and the solidarity that migration engendered was one of the most important values transmitted from very early ages. Therefore, there was a strong culture of migration, understood as a generalised assumption that young people will leave home (Easthope and Gabriel 2008). Teenagers in the community start Journal of Youth Studies 883 migrating at 14 years and consequently relegate their schooling to a subordinate position, since migration at this stage represents a rite of passage from boyhood to adulthood (Boehm, 2008).…”