Cited by 33Migration and Labor DynamicsWork-Family Balance ChallengesGender, Labor, and Family Dynamics

Tightening early childcare choices – gender and social class inequalities among Polish mothers in Germany and the UK

Open access
Barglowski, Karolina, Pustulka, Paula·2018·Comparative Migration Studies

Abstract

Care for young children continues to highly influence the life chances of men and women, even more so when they are migrants. For migrant women, childcare remains a particular challenge when their kin are absent and the gendered norms of work and family life abroad diverge from what they have known in the country of origin. This article contributes to a deeper understanding of social class and childcare strategies of migrant women by combining two research projects with migrants from Poland to Germany and the UK. Accounts represented in this article depict the ways in which migrant mothers interpret and use the available childcare options, thereby highlighting how class-based resources are deployed and reproduced in two different welfare regimes. The comparative approach pursued in the article reveals that it is neither class nor national context that has a capacity to determine early childcare choices on its own. Instead, it is an intricate interplay of social protections’ availability, gender norms and social class, which together engender various childcare strategies.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This article compares how Polish migrant mothers in Germany and the UK make early childcare choices, arguing that neither class nor national welfare regime alone determines those choices. It finds that class-based resources, gender norms, and welfare protections interact to produce different childcare strategies, with working-class mothers more constrained and middle-class mothers better able to reconcile care with employment.

Key findings

  • Childcare choices are shaped by an interplay of social protections, gender norms, and social class, not by class or national context alone.
  • Working-class and lower-middle-class mothers often stayed home before children turned 1 and sometimes longer; their employment was less economically rewarding and often constrained by unrecognized qualifications, precarious work, and childcare costs.
  • Middle-class/academic mothers more often used institutional ECEC, nannies, and networks to combine care with professional careers; they could deploy transferable capital, assets, and resources (CARs) across both Germany and the UK.
  • The paper cites survey data that 78% of men and 75% of women in Poland agree a woman with young children should not work, while around 60% say a woman is ultimately responsible for the family.

Methods

  • Qualitative re-analysis combining two separate research projects on Polish migrants in Germany and the UK, using semi-structured and biographic interviews plus participant observation in respondents’ homes, Polish schools, and churches.
  • Study 1: 17 Polish migrants in Germany, including 4 joint interviews with heterosexual couples; respondents aged 33–67, with 1–3 children; 5 had university degrees and 12 vocational training.
  • Study 2: 37 interviews with Polish migrant women with children in the UK and Germany; average age 37.9 (range 23–64), 16 had university degrees, 12 technical training or A-levels, 9 vocational qualifications; all but two were employed, six part-time; participants had 74 children, and 18 had at least one child under 5. Analysis used open coding, then sequence/hermeneutic analysis in Study 1 and categorical case-by-case/cross-comparative analysis in Study 2.

Limitations

  • The paper does not state a dedicated limitations section.
  • Evident from the text: the analysis relies on small, non-representative qualitative subsamples from two separately designed projects, limiting generalizability.
  • Evident from the text: class is operationalized mainly through education and employment status, and the sample is largely composed of heterosexual married Polish migrant mothers, which narrows the range of migrant experiences considered.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/s40878-018-0102-6

Cites

48 of 49 references verified0 citation errors · 1 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

6 of 49 cited sources checked · 2 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation

    These insights have not been sufficiently applied to the distinct realities of migrant motherhood.

    “these insights have not been sufficiently applied to the distinct realities of migrant motherhood (see also, Fibbi & Truong, 2015)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fibbi & Truong, 2015 source

      The Theoretical background questions whether concepts developed from majority-family research adequately account for migrant families, and the Discussion says a mainstream measure of parental status is inadequate for migrant parents. These passages support the concern about applying existing insights to migrant realities, but the paper addresses parents and families rather than the distinct realities of migrant motherhood. The passages provide no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.83)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    Migrants are predominantly analysed through an "ethnic lens" which ignores the heterogeneity of class.

    “migrants are predominantly analysed through an “ethnic lens” which ignores the heterogeneity of class”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Lareau, 2000 source
    • cites Jensen, 2010 source

      The Abstract discusses how class and material inequality are obscured in debates about parenting, and ‘Building character, building taxonomies’ discusses classed patterns in parenting data. Neither addresses how migrants are analysed or describes an ‘ethnic lens’; searches for those terms and related migration terminology found no supporting passage. No page numbers were available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Findingcitation

    The vast majority of migrant mothers subordinate their own labour market activities to the routines of other members of their households.

    “This is demonstrated by the fact that the vast majority of migrant mothers subordinate their own labour market activities to the routines of other members of their households (in general female employment is persistently seen as subordinated to males’, for Germany, see Auspurg, Hinz, & Sauer, 2017).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Auspurg, Hinz, & Sauer, 2017 source
  • Findingreasoning

    Class-related childcare choices are embedded in different institutional contexts across the two welfare regimes, the Bismarckian one in Germany and the Anglo-Saxon one in the UK.

    “class-related childcare choices are embedded in different institutional contexts across the two welfare regimes, the Bismarckian one in Germany and the Anglo-Saxon1 one in the UK.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Parenting young children is tangibly interlinked with the scope and span of social protections available in a given welfare regime.
  • Findingcitation

    Some of the respondents found themselves escaping from marginalization, destitution and debt through migration.

    “some of the respondents found themselves escaping from marginalization, destitution and debt through migration.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Slany, 2008

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 23
  • May combine two claims. 55
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Mothers differently use childcare facilities according to their class.

    “Although it has been shown before that mothers differently use childcare facilities according to their class (Lareau, 2000; Jensen, 2010)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Lareau, 2000 source
    • cites Jensen, 2010 source

      The ‘Building character, building taxonomies’ section discusses class differences in reported parenting styles and parental confidence, but not mothers’ use of childcare facilities. Searches for childcare facilities, nursery or day care, and childcare found no passage addressing class differences in their use. (LLM, conf=0.74)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Polish women in the UK may become more sociable and forge weak local ties to have a childcare safety net on site.

    “Polish women in the UK may become more sociable and forge weak local ties to have a childcare safety net on site.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ryan (2016) source

      The Oral and Visual Methods section describes a study of Polish migrants in London, most of them women. From Latent to Realised Resources describes participants forming social connections, including through a child’s school, but the paper discusses those ties in relation to information and employment. The passages found do not support the claimed purpose of creating a local childcare safety net (no page numbers available). (LLM, conf=0.78)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Opportunity structures produce and are produced through individual's actions that draw differently on capital, assets and resources.

    “opportunity structures produce and are produced through individual’s actions that draw differently on capital, assets and resources (=CAR’s, see Savage, Warde, & Devine, 2005)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Savage, Warde, & Devine, 2005 source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    Paulina's husband works as a construction worker and she holds cleaning jobs in the early morning and late evening hours, as in those times her husband can take care of their children.

    “Since then, he works as a construction worker and she holds cleaning jobs in the early morning and late evening hours, as in those times her husband can take care of their children.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    These respondents usually doubt that their own professional situation will ever be as good as it has been in Poland, pointing at gendered inequalities within migrant families.

    “These respondents usually doubt that their own professional situation will ever be as good as it has been in Poland, pointing at gendered inequalities within migrant families.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    The respondents had mothers who experienced double-burden of work and household duties, yet nonetheless occupied inferior social positions.

    “The respondents had mothers who experienced double-burden of work and household duties, yet nonetheless occupied inferior social positions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    Paulina interprets her 16-h-workdays as very tiring.

    “She understandably interprets her 16-h-workdays as very tiring.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Especially in the UK, mothers are often faced with a high level of consumerism and availability of goods on the one hand, yet confined to the ethnic spaces of social activities, on the other.

    “However, especially in the UK, they are often faced with a high level of consumerism and availability of goods on the one hand, yet confined to the ethnic spaces of social activities, on the other.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    Compared to the life situation in Poland, the possibility to quit waged employment is held to be a privilege in Germany, as well as a signifier of a migration success.

    “Compared to the life situation in Poland, the possibility to quit waged employment is held to be a privilege in Germany, as well as a signifier of a migration success.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    Paulina immigrated to Germany in 2011 after her husband signed a working contract with a temporary employment agency.

    “This was the case of Paulina, who immigrated to Germany in 2011 after her husband has signed a working contract with a temporary employment agency (Leiharbeitsfirma).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given

    Aneta expressed doubts about the potentiality of having three children had she and her husband stayed in Poland.

    “Aneta expressed doubts about the potentiality of having three children had she and her husband stayed in Poland.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Martyna has not been able to take advantage of locally offered post-natal support and while she regards her young child 'has everything', she simultaneously deprives herself and her toddler of opportunities to network with the community.

    “Martyna has not been able to take advantage of the locally offered post-natal support and while she regards the fact that her young child ‘has everything’, she simultaneously deprives, though involuntarily, herself and her toddler of opportunities to network with the community.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingreasoning

    Many women feel that they sacrifice their own careers for a better future for their children.

    “As such, many of the women feel that they sacrifice their own careers for a better future for their children.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    Women, in particular those in blue-collar occupations, who go back to work, feel inadequate and resented.

    “women, in particular those in blue-collar occupations, who go back to work, feel inadequate and resented.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Gender norms of maternal dedication to raising children prominently feature in women's decisions and elicit a preference for staying home and providing the best possible care.

    “The narratives show that gender norms of maternal dedication to raising children prominently feature in women’s decisions and elicit a preference for staying home and providing the best possible care.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Polish cultural gender norms exert pressure on migrant mothers' childcare and employment decisions.
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The more privileged women could first and foremost decide on, and then financially afford, the form of childcare that appealed to them.

    “Starting with the most evident financial differences between the two groups, the more privileged women could first and foremost decide on, and then financially afford, the form of childcare that appealed to them.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given

    For educated women, who have invested considerable time and effort into their education and careers, workplace success is often a constituent of a satisfying life.

    “In particular for educated women, who have invested considerable time and effort into their education and careers, workplace success is often a constituent of a satisfying life.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    With sky-rocketing prices of childcare in the UK, some women preferred to stay at home a while longer, often alternating with their partners in taking parental leave, and working part-time after hiring a childminder.

    “On that note, with sky-rocketing prices of childcare in the UK, some women preferred to stay at home a while longer, often alternating with their partners in taking parental leave, and working part-time after hiring a childminder:”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    Privileged women flexibly take advantage of maternity leave, the length being dependent on the regulation of the distinct welfare regime, and a variety of local activities, such as baby groups, through which they build relevant networks and access social capital in accordance with the conditions they find after immigration.

    “As such privileged women flexibly take advantage of maternity leave, the length being dependent on the regulation of the distinct welfare regime, and a variety of local activities, such as baby groups, through which they build relevant networks and access social capital in accordance with the conditions they find after immigration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Women from the working-class group decided to dedicate themselves to childcare before their children reached the milestone of being 1-year-old, and a considerable majority remained home longer.

    “All in all, women from the working-class group decided to dedicate themselves to childcare before their children reached the milestone of being 1-year-old, and a considerable majority remained home longer.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Another strategy was to combine leaves with a professional reorientation, as Magda worked before her pregnancy as a consultant, but was increasingly unhappy with that and planned to undertake a teacher training during her maternal leave.

    “Another strategy was to combine leaves with a professional reorientation, as Magda, for instance, has worked before her pregnancy as a consultant, but was increasingly unhappy with that and planned to undertake a teacher training during her maternal leave.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    This often meant that they had to forgo their professional life and stayed at home with the children out of family's necessity rather than as personal choice, largely because their own employment seemed to them to be less rewarding in economic and normative ('self-fulfilment') terms.

    “This often meant that they had to forgo their professional life and stayed at home with the children out of family’s necessity rather than as personal choice, largely because their own employment seemed to them to be less rewarding in economic and normative (“self-fulfilment”) terms (see also Mazurkiewicz, 2018).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Mazurkiewicz, 2018

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    The biggest class-based difference is that academic middle-class women often manage to get their children and themselves into the local networks and, thus, learn about the local system, either through the entrusted ECEC that predisposes their children to succeed educationally, or by networking with mothers who can advise them on what the best schools in the area are.

    “The biggest class-based difference is that academic middle-class women often manage to get their children and themselves into the local networks and, thus, learn about the local system, either through the entrusted ECEC that predisposes their children to succeed educationally, or by networking with mothers who can advise them on what the best schools in the area are.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    In both countries, privileged women put strong emphasis on their professional role, while less privileged mothers have faced restricted labour market options.

    “In both countries, they put strong emphasis on their professional role, while less privileged mothers have faced restricted labour market options.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Andzelika used her time off with her child as a 'sabbatical', strategizing it with her migration project and using the time to take up a psychotherapist training.

    “In the same vein, Andzelika has used her time off with her child as a ‘sabbatical’, strategizing it with her migration project and using the time to take up a psychotherapist training.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Not all middle-class women are engaged in full-time employment, but they deploy a variety of strategies to adjust their career advancement with their care commitments.

    “As is shown in this excerpt, not all middle-class women are engaged in full-time employment, but, they deploy a variety of strategies to adjust their career advancement with their care commitments.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In Magda's account, the male breadwinner model, which is an ideal for many less privileged women, is also prevalent among educated women, who often see their money as 'an addition to what my husband is earning'.

    “In Magda’s account we see that the male breadwinner model, which is an ideal for many less privileged women, is also prevalent among educated women, who often see their money, as “an addition to what my husband is earning”.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    While early childcare choices become tightened for all women, the CAR-related challenges of working-class mothers signify more struggles for this group.

    “While the early childcare choices become tightened for all women, the CAR-related challenges of working-class mothers signify more struggles for this group.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Academic middle-class mothers usually do not spend time in the private sphere during early motherhood, but instead gather with other mothers from the same class-based or ethnic background, normally found in (international) playgroups and local meetings (for 'expat' mothers).

    “Additionally, the academic middle-class mothers usually do not spend time in the private sphere during early motherhood, but instead gather with other mothers from the same class-based or ethnic background, normally found in (international) playgroups and local meetings (for ‘expat’ mothers).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Mothers who had white-collar careers exude trust towards expert-certified maternal capital and investments, as they buy expensive equipment (strollers, bouncy chairs) and everyday items (organic food).

    “The mothers who had white-collar careers exude trust towards expert-certified maternal capital and investments, as they buy expensive equipment (strollers, bouncy chairs) and everyday items (organic food).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In our studies, migrant women who held blue-collar jobs were less likely to be able to draw on their CARs and, ultimately, had to strategize childcare in the context of limited options.

    “In our studies, migrant women who held blue-collar jobs were less likely to be able to draw on their CARs and, ultimately, had to strategize childcare in the context of limited options.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Magda and Andzelika made use of nannies and full-time kindergartens (Kita), while Sylwia made significant effort into finding the best ECEC institution in the area.

    “Magda and Andzelika made use of nannies and full-time kindergartens (Kita), while Sylwia made significant effort into finding a best ECEC institution in the area:”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    Mothers in our studies mostly work when their spouses can take care of their children, thus their economic activity largely depends on their partners' willingness to share caring duties and, independently of how high their income was, it had been usually regarded as 'additional'.

    “Accordingly, the mothers in our studies mostly work when their spouses can take care of their children, thus their economic activity largely depends on their partners’ willingness to share caring duties and, independently of how high their income was, it had been usually regarded as “additional”.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    Women in the upper- and middle-class group tend to question traditional gender norms as means to define their identities and usually aim to organize childcare in a way that does not hinder their professional roles.

    “The women in this group tend to question traditional gender norms as means to define their identities and usually aim to organize childcare in a way that does not hinder their professional roles.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Motherhood often hinders women's labour market performance and deteriorates their economic position.

    “motherhood often hinders women’s labour market performance and deteriorates their economic position (Miller, 2007; Pustułka, 2015)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Miller, 2007 source
    • cites Pustułka, 2015 source
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    An intergenerational family contract of relying on kinship is unattainable, meaning that mothers have to develop explanations and strategies for both becoming a stay-at-home parent and delegating care.

    “an intergenerational family contract of relying on kinship is unattainable, meaning that mothers have to develop explanations and strategies for both becoming a stay-at-home parent and delegating care.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: It is typical for female economic migrants who then transition to parenthood to call on their mothers for help and advice on their new-borns.
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Due to better standardization systems for higher education certificates, those with vocational and technical trainings can find themselves at a cross-cultural disadvantage, yet may also benefit from more work opportunities in secondary employment sector for low-skilled labour abroad.

    “Due to the better standardization systems for higher education certificates, those with vocational and technical trainings can find themselves at a cross-cultural disadvantage, yet may also benefit from more work opportunities in secondary employment sector for low-skilled labour abroad.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Migration may mean that cultural capital is devalued and gender norms diverge, often effectively limiting parents' and children's future life chances.

    “migration may mean that cultural capital is devalued (Weiss, 2005) and gender norms diverge (Amelina, 2013), often effectively limiting parents’ and children’s future life chances (Pratt, 2012)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Weiss, 2005 source
    • cites Amelina, 2013 source
    • cites Pratt, 2012 source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    By conjuring markedly different childcare choices and availabilities of social protection, CARs prompt specific outcomes for both present and future prospects of migrant mothers and children.

    “By conjuring markedly different childcare choices and availabilities of social protection, CARs prompt specific outcomes for both present and future prospects of migrant mothers and children.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The choice of childcare provisioning strategy determines the professional pathways and social mobility of migrant women and has paramount influence on the futures of migrant children.

    “The choice of childcare provisioning strategy is highly consequential, since it not only determines the professional pathways and social mobility of migrant women but has also paramount influence on the futures (e.g. educational attainment) of migrant children (Turney & Kao, 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Turney & Kao, 2009 source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    The German governance strongly supports a socially-desirable model of a family, wherein the division between women's caring and men's providing/breadwinning roles remains quite apparent.

    “the German governance strongly supports a socially-desirable model of a family, wherein the division between women’s caring and men’s providing/breadwinning roles remains quite apparent.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The UK has increased investment in early-years education programmes, centrally-dependant on state funding from a top-to-bottom approach.

    “we can observe an increased investment in early-years education programmes, which are, in the UK, centrally-dependant on state funding from a top-to-bottom approach.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    The Anglo-Saxon regime is typically a more 'residual' one, especially in a lesser focus on framing a particular family model and a forgone income transfer.

    “the Anglo-Saxon regime is typically a more ‘residual’ one, especially in a lesser focus on framing a particular family model and a forgone income transfer.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Migrant mothering is a key example for the wider issues of how capital permeates the reproduction of class.

    “migrant mothering is a key example for the wider issues of how capital permeates the reproduction of class.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    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”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ryan (2007) source
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    This has made a working mother and dual-career household model only recently acknowledged and somewhat promoted in Germany and effectively explains why the expansion of provisions in Germany proceeds at a slower pace.

    “this has made a working mother and dual-career household model only recently acknowledged and somewhat promoted in the latter regime and effectively explains why the expansion of provisions in Germany proceeds at a slower pace (Evers et al., 2005, p. 204).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Evers et al., 2005, p. 204 source
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    The governing body in the UK seeks to 'manage the childcare market' across family models, while Germany demonstrates commitment to subsidiarity and mixed approaches that foster the continuity of traditional care models.

    “the governing body in the UK seeks to ‘manage the childcare market’ across family models, while Germany demonstrates commitment to subsidiarity and mixed approaches that foster the continuity of traditional care models.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    In a bottom-up model, German cities and communities can incept a wider range of tailored solutions.

    “In a bottom-up model, German cities and communities can incept a wider range of tailored solutions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    With fathering less affected by social norms, men are able to continue circular migration between countries without having their parenting skills questioned.

    “With fathering less affected by social norms (Pribilsky, 2004), men are able to continue circular migration between countries without having their parenting skills questioned.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Pribilsky, 2004 source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisereasoning

    Welfare benefits in Germany tended to support either an exit or a non-entry of women onto the labour markets.

    “welfare benefits tended to support either an exit or a non-entry of women onto the labour markets.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The UK model is grounded on an economic liberalism and is often characterized as a 'work-enforcing mechanism'.

    “The UK model is grounded on an economic liberalism and is often characterized as a ‘work-enforcing mechanism’ (Leibfried, 1996).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Leibfried, 1996

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    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”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ryan (2007) source
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    According to a recent representative survey research, 78% of men and 75% of women in Poland agree that a woman who has young children should not work, while around 60% of respondents claim that it is a woman who is ultimately responsible for the family.

    “as many as 78% of men and 75% of women in Poland agree that a woman who has young children should not work, while around 60% of the respondents claim that it is a woman who is ultimately responsible for the family (Krzaklewska et al., 2016)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Krzaklewska et al., 2016

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Class intersects with gender and engenders certain configurations and normativity of labour market activities and maternal subjectivities.

    “class intersects with gender and engenders certain configurations and normativity of labour market activities and maternal subjectivities (Lareau, 2000)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lareau, 2000 source
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Gendered norms imported from the sending country are usually not at odds with the conditions women find after immigration to Germany and thus respondents seem to aspire to the ideal of a traditional family.

    “Gendered norms imported from the sending country are usually not at odds with the conditions women find after immigration to Germany and thus respondents seem to aspire to the ideal of a traditional family.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The reasoning for expanding the dataset directly answers a call for more comparative work in migration research and yields itself to an additional in-depth analysis focused on a particular finding or aspect of the broader primary work undertaken.

    “The reasoning for expanding the dataset directly answers a call for more comparative work in migration research and yields itself to an additional in-depth analysis focused on a particular finding or aspect of the broader primary work undertaken (Heaton, 1998).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Heaton, 1998

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The interviewed women largely grew up with the ethics of care in femininity models, which resulted in a gendered socialization of Polish children based on raising girls to be 'caring', and having care understood as a female obligation and task that gives women's lives a meaning.

    “the interviewed women largely grew up with the ethics of care in femininity models (Gilligan, 1982), which Titkow (2007) noted resulted in a gendered socialization of Polish children based on raising girls to be ‘caring’, and having care understood as a female obligation and task that gives women’s lives a meaning (pp. 240–241).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Gilligan, 1982

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Titkow (2007)

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The presented analysis combines two separate research projects, and both the thematic similarities and the aligned qualitative approaches allow for a combination of results.

    “both the thematic similarities and the aligned qualitative approaches allow for a combination of results.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Although gender norms are changing, latest when couples have children, many couples practice a traditional male earner and female caregiver model, particularly in the Polish migrant and more religious households.

    “many couples practice a traditional male earner and female caregiver model (Pfau-Effinger, 2004), particularly in the Polish migrant and more religious households (Mazurkiewicz, 2018).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Pfau-Effinger, 2004 source
    • cites Mazurkiewicz, 2018

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Destination regimes often capitalize on mothers as workers, yet tend to relegate women - unlike men - from working-classes into biological reproduction settings of traditional families by offering them fewer good opportunities.

    “destination regimes often capitalize on mothers as workers, yet tend to relegate women – unlike men - from working-classes into biological reproduction settings of traditional families by offering them fewer good opportunities (Pustułka, 2015).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Pustułka, 2015 source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    While this is explicitly supported by the German welfare state orientation, the income discrepancies in the UK allow for this type of solution as well.

    “While this is explicitly supported by the German welfare state orientation, the income discrepancies in the UK allow for this type of solution as well.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Living in a transnational space often means that women have limited experiences of the welfare systems and social protection schemes in the receiving country.
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Neoliberalisation in Poland after the communist state reinforced a traditional family model and decreased participation of women in the labour force.

    “neoliberalisation ensued after the communist state and has been paired with rolling-back the state and resulted in the reinforcement of a traditional family model and decreased participation of women in the labour force (Pustułka, 2015).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Pustułka, 2015 source
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    This orientation concerns working-class and lower-middle-class mothers in particular because their constraint labour market position renders their waged employment less rewarding in economic terms but also with regard to their "self-fulfilment" through employment.

    “This orientation concerns working-class and lower-middle-class mothers in particular because their constraint labour market position renders their waged employment less rewarding in economic terms but also with regard to their “self-fulfilment” through employment.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    People expect that 'in Germany one income is enough to live' and that institutions support the non-working housewife model through mechanisms of beneficial taxation and relatively long and generous maternal leaves.

    “people expect that ‘in Germany one income is enough to live’ (Barglowski, Krzyżowski, & Świątek, 2015) and that institutions support the non-working housewife model through mechanisms of beneficial taxation and relatively long and generous maternal leaves.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Barglowski, Krzyżowski, & Świątek, 2015 source
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    This renders maternal and family resources not nation-state-specific, but rather locates them in the realm of transnational forms of capital, which can be recognized in global and universal contexts.

    “This renders maternal and family resources not nation-state-specific, but rather locates them in the realm of transnational forms of capital, which can be recognized in global and universal contexts:”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Multifarious factors alleviate the challenge of procuring care for young children and the caring strategies employed by mothers in the upper- and middle-class strata by virtue of their professional status abroad.

    “Multifarious factors alleviate the challenge of procuring care for young children and the caring strategies employed by mothers located in the upper- and middle-class strata by virtue of their professional status abroad.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Migrant caregiving is a function of gender norms in both the emigration and the immigration country, inadvertently tied to the class-based resources and subjectivity, with the welfare regime coming to play as an additional factor.

    “It follows therefore that migrant caregiving is a function of gender norms in both the emigration and the immigration country, inadvertently tied to the class-based resources and subjectivity, with the welfare regime coming to play as an additional factor.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Polish cultural gender norms exert pressure on migrant mothers' childcare and employment decisions.
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Bogusia deploys a typical middle-class orientation that Lareau (2000) termed 'concerted cultivation', referring to active parenting and monitoring of children, which allows the transmission of middle-class advantages from one generation to the other.

    “Bogusia, for instance, deploys a typical middle-class orientation that Lareau (2000) has termed as “concerted cultivation”, referring to the active parenting and monitoring of their children, which allows the transmission of middle-class advantages from one generation to the other.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lareau (2000) source
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    While the specific configuration of formal and informal care depend on the opportunity structure provided by the welfare regime, the orientations and practices that mothers deploy are inherently shaped by their class background.

    “While the specific configuration of formal and informal care depend on the opportunity structure provided by the welfare regime, the orientations and practices that mothers deploy are inherently shaped by their class background.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Polish cultural gender norms exert pressure on migrant mothers' childcare and employment decisions.
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    By being inherently linked to the class-related opportunities, which are decisive for how migrant women juggle formal and informal social protection after migration, CARs and regimes need to be analysed together.

    “By being inherently linked to the class-related opportunities, which are decisive for how migrant women juggle formal and informal social protection after migration, CARs and regimes need to be analysed together.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Care is a key dimension of migrants' class, which is deeply interrelated with experiences of migration.

    “It has been demonstrated that care is a key dimension of migrants’ class, which is deeply interrelated with experiences of migration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
71 of 71
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The 6-year-old mark demarcates the end of a particularly care-intensive phase in children’s lives and usually signifies a transition from home-based to school-led socialization and care.

    “The 6-year-old mark demarcates the end of a particularly care-intensive phase in children’s lives and usually signifies a transition from home-based to school-led socialization and care.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Parenting young children is tangibly interlinked with the scope and span of social protections available in a given welfare regime.

    “parenting young children is also tangibly interlinked with the scope and span of social protections available in a given welfare regime.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Living in a transnational space often means that women have limited experiences of the welfare systems and social protection schemes in the receiving country.

    “living in a transnational space often means that women have limited experiences of the welfare systems and social protection schemes in the receiving country”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The temporal frame of early motherhood tends to coincide with a period when people make greatest advances in their professional lives.

    “this temporal frame tends to also coincide with a period when people make greatest advances in their professional lives”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    It is typical for female economic migrants who then transition to parenthood to call on their mothers for help and advice on their new-borns.

    “it is typical for female economic migrants who then transition to parenthood to call on their mothers for help and advice on their new-borns.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Polish cultural gender norms exert pressure on migrant mothers' childcare and employment decisions.

    “A greater recognition of qualifications and generally more resources can usually assuage pressures from the Polish cultural gender norms for migrants with white-collar jobs.”
6 of 6

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

4 of the 53 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Gilligan, C. (1982). In a different voice. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
  2. Mazurkiewicz, N. (2018). The breadwinner and the housekeeper: Constructions of gender identities in post-2004 Polish migration to Ireland. In M. Ślusarczyk, P. Pustulka, J. Struzik (Eds), Contemporary migrant families: Actors and issues (pp. 162–181). Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  3. Vasquez, J. M. (2010). Chicana mothering in the twenty-first century. Challenging stereotypes and transmitting culture. In A. O’Reilly (Ed.), Twenty-first-century motherhood: Experience, identity, policy, agency, (pp. 23–39). New York: Columbia University Press.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Barglowski, K., & Pustulka, P.
Affiliations
TU Dortmund University (DE)
Corresponding author
Barglowski, Karolina
Venue
Comparative Migration Studies
Published
2018-12
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
36-36
ISSN
2214-594X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2900923968
Cited by
33
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3
FWCI
3.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Comparative Migration Studies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Open Repository and Bibliography (University of Luxembourg) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration and Labor Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Work-Family Balance Challenges
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics
Keywords
early childhood care, migrant mothers, Polish immigrants, gender inequality, class inequality, welfare regimes, gender norms, social protection

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-06.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-06.

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