scholarly journals How to fit in? South Asian Mothers and children's acculturation experiences in Australia and children's weight

Author(s):  
tehzeeb zulfiqar ◽  
Lyndall Strazdins ◽  
Cathy Banwell

<p>This study of 14 Australian immigrant mothers from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, and their 12 children aged eight to 11 years, explores the interplay of cultural and social processes which might elevate the risk of obesity. Mothers and their children were asked in semi-structured, face-to-face interviews about changes in their diet and physical activities after immigration to Australia.</p> <p>Thematic analysis of these interviews showed a transformation in immigrant families’ diets and physical activities as they transitioned from their traditional lifestyles to an Australian pattern. Both mothers and their children recognised the problem—and causes—of obesity. However, different frames of reference—origin countries for mothers and Australian peers for children—resulted in generational disjuncture about healthy bodyweight and the strategies to achieve it. Mothers’ cultural values and low social status in origin countries, led them to struggle to adapt to new health behaviours. In contrast, their children wanted to look and act like their Australian peers, who valued slimness.</p> <p>Our findings reveal that the social status of food and activity reflects cultural meanings from both origin countries and Australia, creating contradictions and tensions for immigrants that public health campaigns will need to help them navigate.</p>

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
tehzeeb zulfiqar ◽  
Lyndall Strazdins ◽  
Cathy Banwell

<p>This study of 14 Australian immigrant mothers from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, and their 12 children aged eight to 11 years, explores the interplay of cultural and social processes which might elevate the risk of obesity. Mothers and their children were asked in semi-structured, face-to-face interviews about changes in their diet and physical activities after immigration to Australia.</p> <p>Thematic analysis of these interviews showed a transformation in immigrant families’ diets and physical activities as they transitioned from their traditional lifestyles to an Australian pattern. Both mothers and their children recognised the problem—and causes—of obesity. However, different frames of reference—origin countries for mothers and Australian peers for children—resulted in generational disjuncture about healthy bodyweight and the strategies to achieve it. Mothers’ cultural values and low social status in origin countries, led them to struggle to adapt to new health behaviours. In contrast, their children wanted to look and act like their Australian peers, who valued slimness.</p> <p>Our findings reveal that the social status of food and activity reflects cultural meanings from both origin countries and Australia, creating contradictions and tensions for immigrants that public health campaigns will need to help them navigate.</p>


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824402110317
Author(s):  
Tehzeeb Zulfiqar ◽  
Lyndall Strazdins ◽  
Cathy Banwell

This study of 14 Australian immigrant mothers from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan and their 12 children aged 8 to 11 years aims to explore the interplay of cultural and social processes that might elevate the risk of obesity. Mothers and their children were asked in semi-structured, face-to-face interviews about changes in their diet and physical activities after immigration to Australia. Thematic analysis of these interviews showed a transformation in immigrant families’ diets and physical activities as they transitioned from their traditional lifestyles to an Australian pattern. Both mothers and their children recognized the problem—and causes—of obesity. However, different frames of reference—origin countries for mothers and Australian peers for children—resulted in generational disjuncture about healthy bodyweight and the strategies to achieve it. Mothers’ cultural values and high social status associated with overweight and obesity in origin countries led them to struggle to adapt to new health behaviors in Australia. In contrast, their children preferred to eat Australian foods and have high physical activities to fit in with their Australian peers. Children with higher body weights were commonly ridiculed and were unpopular among their peers. Our findings reveal that the social status of food and physical activity reflects cultural meanings from both origin and host countries, creating contradictions and tensions for immigrants that public health campaigns will need to help them navigate.


Author(s):  
Lillian Mwanri ◽  
Leticia Anderson ◽  
Kathomi Gatwiri

Background: Emigration to Australia by people from Africa has grown steadily in the past two decades, with skilled migration an increasingly significant component of migration streams. Challenges to resettlement in Australia by African migrants have been identified, including difficulties securing employment, experiences of racism, discrimination and social isolation. These challenges can negatively impact resettlement outcomes, including health and wellbeing. There has been limited research that has examined protective and resilience factors that help highly skilled African migrants mitigate the aforementioned challenges in Australia. This paper discusses how individual and community resilience factors supported successful resettlement Africans in Australia. The paper is contextualised within a larger study which sought to investigate how belonging and identity inform Afrodiasporic experiences of Africans in Australia. Methods: A qualitative inquiry was conducted with twenty-seven (n = 27) skilled African migrants based in South Australia, using face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Participants were not directly questioned about ‘resilience,’ but were encouraged to reflect critically on how they navigated the transition to living in Australia, and to identify factors that facilitated a successful resettlement. Results: The study findings revealed a mixture of settlement experiences for participants. Resettlement challenges were observed as barriers to fully meeting expectations of emigration. However, there were significant protective factors reported that supported resilience, including participants’ capacities for excellence and willingness to work hard; the social capital vested in community and family support networks; and African religious and cultural values and traditions. Many participants emphasised their pride in their contributions to Australian society as well as their desire to contribute to changing narratives of what it means to be African in Australia. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that despite challenges, skilled African migrants’ resilience, ambition and determination were significant enablers to a healthy resettlement in Australia, contributing effectively to social, economic and cultural expectations, and subsequently meeting most of their own migration intentions. These findings suggest that resilience factors identified in the study are key elements of integration.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 352
Author(s):  
Xin Zheng

The proverb is summarized and refined by human through many years of social practice beings. As a social variant, it reflects the social customs and cultural values. It is not difficult to see this kind of phenomenon in the English proverb because of the widespread discrimination against women in human culture. Through studying the development trend of sexism in English proverbs, the paper analyses these phenomena from the five aspects-personality, behavior, intelligence, marriage and social status. And then the paper probes into the causes of sexism from three aspects: historical reasons, cultural origin and social factors. The proper comprehension of the sexism in English proverbs not only helps to improve the students' ability of using English, but also avoids the intercultural conflicts caused by improper using of English proverbs in the foreign exchanges.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra M. Lee ◽  
Michelle I. Cardel

Low social status (SS) is a determinant of poor health status and is associated with increased disease burden. Obesity affects 20.6% of American adolescents, most of whom are from low-SS families. Contributors to the development of obesity among adolescents include sedentary behavior and low levels of physical activity. Environmental determinants—infrastructure, policy, and social relationships—influence engagement in physical activity and are affected by SS. Significant declines in physical activity have been documented during adolescence, and adolescents of low SS engage in significantly less physical activity per week than those with high SS. This article briefly reviews the literature on the relationship between SS and physical activity in adolescents and introduces a proposed biological mechanism that may explain that relationship. Characterizing the effects that SS can have on physical activity may help tailor clinical interventions and public health campaigns seeking to improve adolescent physical activity and weight management, thus increasing their effectiveness. This may be particularly beneficial for underserved populations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Gilbert ◽  
A. Ewald

Abstract Background Flavour capsule cigarettes are one of the fastest growing segments of the tobacco market, and there is evidence that Australian young people are increasingly using menthol flavoured capsule cigarettes. This qualitative research examines how young women construct and experience menthol flavour capsule cigarettes as part of their smoking practices, and explores the perceived differences between menthol capsule cigarettes and regular cigarettes. Semi-structured face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with 41 Australian young women smokers, using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Results Findings reveal that the perceived fresh and improved taste of menthol and the ability to customise the smoking process positively contributed to young women’s experiences of smoking menthol capsule cigarettes. In particular, menthol capsule flavour cigarettes were constructed by the young women as “fresh”, “light” and “minty”, and “popping” the menthol capsule allowed the young women to personalise their smoking experience. Conclusion These results indicate that specific public health campaigns and legislation should be developed to counter the powerfully alluring effects and the innovative appeal of menthol capsule cigarettes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirna Albuquerque Frota ◽  
Rosalba Maria Viana de Sousa ◽  
Maria Grasiela Teixeira Barroso

OBJECTIVE: To identify and analyze the meanings of the mothers' participation in looking after their undernourished child. METHODS: An ethnographic approach was adopted, focusing on group dynamics within the family. RESULTS: Family influence in undernourished child care and the prevention of current and future practices related to the factors impede quality care. CONCLUSION: The cultural meanings that guide mothers, in terms of care, support, education and culture, are sustained by the social structure and have direct effects on the quality of people's life, as individuals and as social groups.


Author(s):  
David C. Byrne ◽  
Christa L. Themann ◽  
Deanna K. Meinke ◽  
Thais C. Morata ◽  
Mark R. Stephenson

An audiologist should be the principal provider and advocate for all hearing loss prevention activities. Many audiologists equate hearing loss prevention with industrial audiology and occupational hearing conservation programs. However, an audiologist’s involvement in hearing loss prevention should not be confined to that one particular practice setting. In addition to supervising occupational programs, audiologists are uniquely qualified to raise awareness of hearing risks, organize public health campaigns, promote healthy hearing, implement intervention programs, and monitor outcomes. For example, clinical audiologists can show clients how to use inexpensive sound level meters, noise dosimeters, or phone apps to measure noise levels, and recommend appropriate hearing protection. Audiologists should identify community events that may involve hazardous exposures and propose strategies to minimize risks to hearing. Audiologists can help shape the knowledge, beliefs, motivations, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals toward self-protection. An audiologist has the education, tools, opportunity, and strategic position to facilitate or promote hearing loss surveillance and prevention services and activities. This article highlights real-world examples of the various roles and substantial contributions audiologists can make toward hearing loss prevention goals.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-190
Author(s):  
Fethiye Tilbe

Bu makale, göçmen dövizi  akımlarında “düzensizlik” olarak ifade ettiğimiz, Türkiye’ye resmi kanallar dışında gönderilen enformel  göçmen dövizlerini, Birleşik Krallık’ta (özellikle Londra’da) yaşayan Türkiye kökenli göçmenler açısından incelemektedir. Her göçmen grubu, gerek ev sahibi ülkedeki düzenleyici çerçeve ve sosyo-ekonomik koşullar, gerek göçmen topluluğunun sosyo-kültürel değerleri tarafından belirlenen biçimde, farklı göçmen dövizi transfer biçimlerine eğilim sergilemektedir. Dolayısıyla farklı ülkelerdeki aynı kökenden göçmen toplulukları, ev sahibi ülkedeki dinamikler nedeniyle göçmen dövizlerinin formel ya da enformel (düzenli ya da düzensiz) gönderiminde farklılaşabilirken, aynı ülkedeki farklı ülke kökenli göçmen grupları da pek çok örüntünün etkisiyle farklı eğilim gösterebilmektedir. Nitel araştırma tasarımı kapsamında 27 göçmen ve 7 anahtar statüdeki katılımcıyla gerçekleştirilen yüz yüze görüşmelere dayalı olan bu çalışma, Birleşik Krallık’tan Türkiye’ye göçmen dövizi gönderimindeki düzensizlik olgusunu, her iki ülkenin sosyal, ekonomik ve kültürel dinamikleriyle ilişkilendirerek incelemeyi ve nedenlerini ortaya çıkarmayı amaç edinmektedir. Elde edilen sonuçlar, göçmenlik statüsü, gönderilen para miktar ve sıklığı ile geleneksel ilişki ağlarına olan güvenin yanında, Birleşik Krallık’taki sosyal yardım ve çalışma biçimine ilişkinin düzenleyici çerçevenin ve göçmenlerin sosyo-ekonomik durumlarının Türkiye’ye enformel göçmen dövizi gönderiminde temel belirleyici olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.ABSTRACT IN ENGLISHA Qualitative Examination of Determinants of Remittances Sending Behaviour Among Immigrants from Turkey in the UKThis article examines the causes of irregularity in remittances flows from the United Kingdom (UK) to Turkey, from the perspective of migrants from Turkey living in the UK. Each group of migrants prefers different types of remittance sending methods, as determined by the regulatory framework and socio-economic conditions in the host country and the socio-cultural values of the migrant community. Therefore, migrant communities of the same origin in different countries may differ in using formal or informal sending methods of remittances due to the dynamics in the host country. Similarly, migrant groups of different nationalities in the same country may show different tendencies due to the influence of many patterns. Similarly, migrant groups of different nationalities in the same country may show different tendencies due to the influence of many patterns. This study aims to examine the phenomenon of irregularities in sending remittances by associating with the social, economic and cultural dynamics of both countries. For this purpose, face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with 27 immigrants and 7 key status participants by using qualitative research method. The obtained results reveal that the regulatory framework relating to social assistance and labour market in the UK, immigration status, the frequency and the amount of money sent and confidence in traditional relationship networks is the main determinants of informal money transfers to Turkey.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Zhou ◽  
Xiangyi Li

We consider cross-space consumption as a form of transnational practice among international migrants. In this paper, we develop the idea of the social value of consumption and use it to explain this particular form of transnationalism. We consider the act of consumption to have not only functional value that satisfies material needs but also a set of nonfunctional values, social value included, that confer symbolic meanings and social status. We argue that cross-space consumption enables international migrants to take advantage of differences in economic development, currency exchange rates, and social structures between countries of destination and origin to maximize their expression of social status and to perform or regain social status. Drawing on a multisited ethnographic study of consumption patterns in migrant hometowns in Fuzhou, China, and in-depth interviews with undocumented Chinese immigrants in New York and their left-behind family members, we find that, despite the vulnerabilities and precarious circumstances associated with the lack of citizenship rights in the host society, undocumented immigrants manage to realize the social value of consumption across national borders and do so through conspicuous consumption, reciprocal consumption, and vicarious consumption in their hometowns even without being physically present there. We conclude that, while cross-space consumption benefits individual migrants, left-behind families, and their hometowns, it serves to revive tradition in ways that fuel extravagant rituals, drive up costs of living, reinforce existing social inequality, and create pressure for continual emigration.


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