Table 1.
Summary of families’ displacement experiences [all relations in the table are with respect to the offspring in the nuclear family]
| Family # | Country of origin | Reasons for displacement | Capital gains | Capital losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | • Limited economic opportunities | • Career opportunities for mother | • Familiar and beloved house |
| • Reunite with elderly, dying parent | • Time spent with elderly, dying parent | • Friends and community | ||
| • Secured employment | ||||
| 2 | Iraq | • Ethnic/religious persecution | • Safety | • Family’s affluence |
| • Freedom | • Time to spend with children | |||
| • Adverse effect on child’s social development | ||||
| 3 | Germany | • Ethnic/religious persecution | • Safety | • Value of educational degree |
| • Freedom | • Religious faith | |||
| • Emotional trauma | ||||
| 4 | Ukraine | • Ethnic/religious persecution | • Freedom | • Family possessions |
| • Improved economic status, housing and availability of food | ||||
| • Feeling equal (not inferior) | ||||
| • Support from resettlement organizations | ||||
| 5 | Latvia | • Institutional persecution | • Economic opportunities | • Social status |
| • Limited employment opportunities | • Son’s ability to pursue a sport career | • Mother’s career ended | ||
| • Father’s business | ||||
| 6 | Egypt | • Limited economic opportunities | • Integration in ethnocultural community | • Father’s loss of value of occupational skill |
| • Maintaining heritage | ||||
| 7 | Russia | • Fear of communism | • Economic opportunities | • Inconsistency in children’s education |
| Venezuela | • Uncertain future | |||
| 8 | Dominican Republic | • Limited economic opportunities | • Improvement in social status | • Difficulty with cultural identity for younger generation |
| 9 | Russia | • Ethnic/religious Persecution | • Religious freedom | • Places of significance |
| • Economic opportunities | • Family possessions | |||
| 10 | USA | • Son’s illness | • Healthy environment for son | • Weakened family relationship |
| • Mother learned a profession | • Adverse effects on child’s social development | |||
| 11 | Cuba | • Political persecution | • Safety | • Family members |
| • Some economic gain | • Disconnection from homeland | |||
| • Opportunities for children | • Sense of community | |||
| 12 | Italy | • Limited economic opportunities | • Family cohesion and closeness | • Homes and friends |
| USA | • Good jobs and homes at times | • Financial stability | ||
| • Need to rely on others | ||||
| 13 | USA | • Disclosure of sexual orientation | • Personal independence | • Strained relationship with family |
| • Improved relationship with mother and one brother | • Abusive relationships | |||
| 14 | Ecuador | • Son’s illness | • Medical care for sick child | • Economic opportunities |
| • Educational opportunity for child | • Safety (from neighborhood crimes) | |||
| 15 | Greece | • Limited economic opportunities | • Economic opportunities | • Family and friends |
| 16 | Guyana | • Ethnic/political persecution | • Opportunities for children | • Disconnection from homeland |
| • Limited economic and education opportunities | • Employment opportunities for mother | • Familiar foods and places | ||
| 17 | Russia | • Ethnic/religious persecution | • Opportunities for children | • Family possessions |
| • Limited educational opportunities | ||||
| 18 | Russia | • Ethnic/religious persecution | • Unclear | • Friends |
| • Uncertain future | • Family home and possessions | |||
| • Mother’s and father’s careers | ||||
| 19 | Korea | • Limited economic and educational opportunities | • Economic opportunities | • Family and friends |
| Argentina | • Valued possessions | |||
| • Careers | ||||
| • Places of emotional significance | ||||
| 20 | Iran | • Ethnic/religious persecution | • Religious freedom | • High standard of living |
| • Limited educational opportunities | • Economic and educational opportunities | • Friends | ||
| • Morals and values of homeland | ||||