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How do migrants’ processes of social embedding unfold over time?
Author(s) -
Lubbers Miranda J.,
Molina José Luis,
Mccarty Christopher
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
global networks
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.685
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1471-0374
pISSN - 1470-2266
DOI - 10.1111/glob.12297
Subject(s) - temporality , residence , sociology , scholarship , agency (philosophy) , embedding , social network (sociolinguistics) , gender studies , economic geography , geography , political science , social science , epistemology , demography , computer science , law , social media , philosophy , artificial intelligence
In this article we investigate how migrants’ processes of social (dis‐) embedding in local and transnational contexts unfold over time and illustrate their driving forces. Drawing on unique longitudinal, mixed‐methods social network data of 77 transnational migrants in Barcelona, Spain, we were able to capture changes in social relationships at a micro‐level. We found that migrant embedding is far from a linear process. In many regards, the observed network dynamics are similar to those the literature observed for non‐migrants; for example, the more substantial changes were typically caused by life events. We also found that migrants’ opportunities to form new relationships with natives depended on their positions within their places of residence, which were structured by gender, race and class. These results call into question assumptions of individual agency in integration and assimilation debates. Furthermore, they call for a greater presence of temporality and life course scholarship in research into migrants’ networks.