Being a 'good' mother: Immigrant mothers of disabled children. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Kyung Mee; Hwang, Se Kwang
• Is Part Of: International social work. Volume 62:Number 4(2019:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1198
• Page End: 1212
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Anti-oppressive working strategies -- disabled children -- immigrant mothers -- mothering -- South Korea; Social service -- Periodicals; Social problems -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Community development -- Periodicals; 361
• DOI: 10.1177/0020872818769707
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-8728

Abstract

In South Korea, disability and immigration are hidden and invisible phenomena. This article examines how immigrant mothers experience the intersection of immigrant status and mothering a disabled child. Through semi-structured interviews with 16 immigrant mothers, this study found that the values of Confucian familism regarding motherhood and gender roles influenced how these immigrant mothers behaved. The study also found that immigrant mothers faced multiple forms of stigma and discrimination as a result of negative socio-cultural views of disability and immigration. Therefore, the article suggests a need for inter-professional, anti-oppression work strategies to support immigrant mothers of disabled children, along with education for social workers about these issues.