Changing Expectations
This chapter examines the evolving Chinese ethnic economy and the changing job market in New York City, as well as the strategies employed by Chinese immigrant women to find and keep jobs after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It begins with a discussion of New York's Chinatown community to illustrate how ethnic enclaves and ethnic labor markets become mobility traps, where workers are exploited on a daily basis. It then presents data from two sets of interviews with thirty women and ten men residing in Chinatown during periods of economic downturn. The first phase of interviewing was conducted during the summer of 2002, while the second phase took place during the winter of 2008–2009. All of the women and three of the men had previously worked in the garment industry. The findings show that, unlike many New York City neighborhoods and economic sectors, the Chinatown enclave never recovered from the post–9/11 economic recession. The chapter also considers the ongoing role of community-based organizations in providing programs that support new workers.