Migrant Women, Social Networks and Motherhood: The Experiences of Irish Nurses in Britain
Abstract
Although there is a growing interest in female migration, little attention has been paid to how migrant women access and sustain social networks, both locally and spatially dispersed, over time. Social networks theories have much to offer an analysis of migrants' social ties and interpersonal relationships. However, while there is a lively interest in transnational networks and global chains of care, many migration studies have simply taken for granted the existence of post-migration networks. Drawing on a case study of Irish nurses in Britain, this ar ticle aims to contribute to a better understanding of how migrant women access and utilize local ties post-migration. While transnational networks may challenge the equation between spatial proximity and social interaction, this ar ticle argues that we should not overlook the impor tance of propinquity particularly in terms of day-to-day practical suppor t and local knowledge.
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Migrant women construct and access a variety of networks which provide them with distinct resources.
“migrant women construct and access a variety of networks which provide them with distinct resources”
From Tightening early childcare choices – gender and social class inequalities among Polish mothers in Germany and the UK (2018) · cites this paper as Ryan (2007)
Professional networks are often favoured over "ethnic" ones, which also carry risks around rivalry and distrust.
“professional networks are often favoured over “ethnic” ones, which also carry risks around rivalry and distrust”
From Tightening early childcare choices – gender and social class inequalities among Polish mothers in Germany and the UK (2018) · cites this paper as Ryan (2007)
The absence of affordable state-run childcare in the United Kingdom necessitates drawing upon shifting combinations of local and transnational networks and forms of social protection.
“the absence of affordable state-run childcare – as it is the case in the United Kingdom – necessitates drawing upon shifting combinations of local and transnational networks and forms of social protection.”
From Tightening early childcare choices – gender and social class inequalities among Polish mothers in Germany and the UK (2018) · cites this paper as Ryan (2007)
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Looking for Weak Ties: Using a Mixed Methods Approach to Capture Elusive Connections
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“Since then, literature has extensively dealt with (transnational) care provisions pertaining to the challenges linked to childcare (Zontini, 2006; Ryan, 2007; Ryan, Sales, Tilki, & Siara, 2008; Kofman, 2012; Baldassar & Merla, 2014; Barglowski, Bilecen, & Amelina, 2015; Barglowski, Krzyżowski, &…”
BackgroundInfluential
- Authors
- Ryan, L.
- Affiliations
- Middlesex University London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Ryan, Louise
- ORCID
- Ryan, Louise
- Venue
- Sociology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2007-04
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 295-312
- ISSN
- 0038-0385 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8684
- OpenAlex
- W2107361895
- Cited by
- 167
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 20.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sociology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration and Labor Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Diaspora, migration, transnational identity
- Social Sciences › Demography › Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies
- Keywords
- migrant women, social networks, motherhood, Irish nurses, transnational networks, propinquity, local ties, spatial proximity, practical support, local knowledge, immigrant women
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