The missing group? Situating transnational contacts in defamilisation research. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Sam Wai Kam; Foster, Liam; Chau, Ruby Chui Man
• Is Part Of: International social work. Volume 65:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: 941
• Page End: 954
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Care -- Chinese immigrants -- decommodification -- government -- overseas families -- UK; Social service -- Periodicals; Social problems -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Community development -- Periodicals; 361
• DOI: 10.1177/0020872820940025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-8728

Abstract

Defamilisation research is increasingly seen as an important component of studies of welfare and social work. It is concerned with people's vulnerability to defamilisation risks, which are caused by insufficient opportunities for people to choose whether and how they participate in the family. Despite an increasing emphasis on defamilisation research, there has been insufficient attention given to how studies of transnational contacts contribute to defamilisation research. This article argues for the need to expand the scope of defamilisation research to incorporate the concept of 'transnational contact-led strategies' using evidence from focus groups with Chinese older people in the United Kingdom.