Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Major/Program
Global and Sociocultural Studies
First Advisor's Name
Alex Stepick
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Chair
Second Advisor's Name
Sarah J. Mahler
Third Advisor's Name
Jean Muteba Rahier
Fourth Advisor's Name
Chantalle F. Verna
Keywords
Haitians, transnational families, immigrants, education, immigrant incorporation, assimialtion
Date of Defense
3-27-2014
Abstract
Nearly 175, 000 Haitian immigrants have settled in South Florida since the 1970s. Their lives are often lived transnationally with persistent connections and obligations to family members in Haiti. Yet, traditional theories of immigrant assimilation focus on the integration of immigrants into host countries, giving little consideration to relationships and activities that extend into migrants' countries of origin. Conversely, studies of transnational families do not explicitly address incorporation into the receiving country. This dissertation, through the experiences of Haitian immigrants in South Florida, reveals a transnational quest “to raise the family up” through migration, remittances, and the pursuit of higher levels of education. I argue that familial duties and obligations, which have cultural foundations in the Haitian lakou, structure the activities of Haitian transnational families as they pursue socioeconomic advancement through migration and education. With the support of transnational families, many students cross boundaries to academic achievement and improve their opportunities for socioeconomic mobility in the US. With higher levels of education, these individuals contributed to a more favorable incorporation into the United States for their extended families, as well.
The data were collected through participant observation and 78 in-depth interviews documenting the migration histories of 27 Haitian immigrant families in South Florida. This dissertation contributes to the existing literature on Haitian immigrants in the United States and to an understanding of the transnational dimensions of immigrant incorporation more broadly.
Identifier
FI14040880
Recommended Citation
Nicholas, Tekla, "Crossing Boundaries to Education: Haitian Transnational Families and the Quest to Raise the Family Up" (2014). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1230.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1230
Included in
Educational Sociology Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons
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