
Helping Out
Miri Song(Author)
Temple University Press,U.S.
Published on 9. July 1999
Book
Paperback/Softback
247 pages
978-1-56639-709-4 (ISBN)
Description
The growing body of literature on ethnic businesses has emphasized the importance of small family-based businesses as a key form of immigrant adaptation. Although there have been numerous references to the importance of \u0022family labor\u0022 as a key ethnic resource, few studies have examined the work roles and family dynamics entailed in various kinds of ethnic businesses. Helping Out addresses the centrality of children's labor participation in such family enterprises. Discussing the case of Chinese families running take-out food shops in Britain, Miri Song examines the ways in which children contribute their labor and the context in which children come to understand and believe in \u0022helping out\u0022 as part of a \u0022family work contract.\u0022 Song explores the implications of these children's labor participation for family relationships, cultural identity, and the future of the Chinese community in Britain. While doing so, she argues that the practical importance and the broader meanings of children's work must be understood in the context of immigrant families' experiences of migration and ethnic minority status in Western, white-majority societies.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Philadelphia PA
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 209 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
308 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-56639-709-4 (9781566397094)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Miri Song is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Kent at Canterbury.
Content
CONTENTS Preface 1 The Role of Family Ties in Ethnic Businesses 2 Chinese Migration and the Establishment of Take-aways in Britain 3 "The Shop Runs Our Lives" 4 Helping Out 5 Upholding and Negotiating the Family Work Contract 6 Siblings' Labor Commitments and Family Reputations 7 Looking to the Future Appendix A: Locations of Take-away Businesses Appendix B: Background Information on Young People Notes Bibliography Index