Families for Mobility - (Families in Focus) by Juyeon Park (Paperback)

About the Book

Families for Mobility documents elite Korean transnational families, focusing on how they use elite education abroad as a tool for class reproduction. Drawing on interviews with parents and children at elite U.S. colleges, the book argues that gendered transnational parenting--by both mothers and fathers--plays a crucial role in the intergenerational transmission of mobility and cosmopolitan lifestyles.

Book Synopsis

Families for Mobility documents elite Korean transnational families, focusing on how they use elite education abroad as a tool for class reproduction. Drawing on over 100 interviews with both parents and children at elite U.S. colleges, the book explores the desires, aspirations, and expectations that shape these education-driven transnational family arrangements. By triangulating the perspectives of children, mothers, and fathers, Families for Mobility argues that gendered transnational parenting--by both mothers and fathers--plays a crucial role in the intergenerational transmission of mobility and cosmopolitan lifestyles. The analysis shows how class and gender shape both parents' and children's approaches to their transnational 'family projects, ' with fathers and sons appearing more resourceful and ambitious than mothers and daughters, reflecting the gender achievement gap even among the elite. The book challenges stereotypes of Asian high achievers and 'tiger' parenting, providing a more nuanced understanding of who thrives in the hierarchical realms of global education and business, as well as the familial support systems behind their success.

Review Quotes

"Families for Mobility is an eloquently written, moving book on the struggles of being a parent--and a child--in a transnational age. Considering the perspectives of both parents and children, the book offers a powerful corrective to simplistic portrayals of Asian families and their educational and migration predicaments."--Johanna Waters "codirector of the Migration Research Unit, University College London"

"Families for Mobility offers a fine-grained perspective on transnational education strategies among elite families in Korea. The stories of parents and children are compelling and skillfully presented; the multifocal perspectives give us a nuanced understanding of these relationships." --Nazli Kibria "Boston University"

About the Author

JUYEON PARK is an assistant professor of sociology at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.