Kilkey, M. orcid.org/0000-0002-0842-7290 and Urzi, D. (2017) Social Reproduction in Sicily’s Agricultural Sector: Migration Status and Context of Reception. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 43 (15). pp. 2573-2590. ISSN 1369-183X
Abstract
This article illuminates the social reproductive experiences of migrants labouring in Sicily’s (Italy) greenhouses. Current global transformations in agricultural production are intersecting with longstanding local economic and social realities, as well as with the 2007 Global Financial Crisis and EU enlargement, to make migrants, male and female, indispensable to a sector resorting to intensified informality in pursuit of flexible and cheap workers. Understanding social reproductive experiences as configured by migrant status and context of reception, the article includes analysis of interview and observational data with two nationalities of migrants – Tunisians and Romanians – occupying different positions in Italy’s migration regime. The article concludes that the harsh context of reception posed by labour market conditions, alongside a familialistic Italian welfare regime, largely precludes opportunities for proximate social reproduction for Tunisians and Romanians. In response, migrants develop transnational resilience strategies resting on cross-border actions combining market-, family-, community and State-based practices, to navigate the social reproductive challenges encountered. Such strategies, however, are less feasible for irregular migrants whose socio-legal position exposes them to the most exploitative working arrangements, denies them access to State welfare and renders them immobile. Moreover, for some regular migrants, such transnational resilience strategies are not their strategies of choice.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 Taylor & Francis. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | stratified social reproduction; context of reception; migrant agricultural workers; S outhern Europe ; transnational resilience strategies |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Department of Sociological Studies (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 07 Feb 2017 16:03 |
Last Modified: | 07 Jul 2023 16:32 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/1369183X.2017.1286971 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:111498 |