Immigration and Ethnic Relations

Coordinators: Karin Elise Fajersson, Oslo University College, Sharam Alghasi, University of Oslo.

This network focuses on issues concerning the impact of ethnicity in various aspects of childhood. We welcome proposals for thematic sessions and workshops, as well as papers from individual participants for the overall network, as well as for the specific areas focused below.
 

Group 1; Multiple identities in multicultural societies
Group coordinator: Nora Stene Preston

The process of global migration has led to the establishment of multicultural societies. In these societies many children grow up relating themselves to a variety of different settings. Earlier research sometimes described these children as between two cultures or the half-way-generation. Today’s child-research often emphasizes the possibility of children’s multicultural competence and their plural identities. The group aims to address issues dealing with questions of ethnicity, ethnic relations and/or multicultural challenges in children’s lives. Contributions may approach the question of multicultural identities in different ways, using the empirical data of their own research, or bringing together earlier work in new and more comprehensive discussions.

Group 2) Ethnic diversity in childhood education
Group coordinator: Camilla Eline Andersen

Childhoods are lived in many arenas, and for many educational settings are parts of their every day life. Educational settings are also changing because of globalization and migration. This is a matter that should be continuously addressed. The Thematic network Group Immigration and Ethnic Relations therefore want to focus on what happens concerning multiple identities in educational institutions for children aged 0-18.

We welcome proposals that address topics that explore ethnic diversity in contemporary childhood education from many angles and positions, and that expands children’s, practitioner's and researcher's boundaries and challenges some of the discourses possibly related to ethnic diversity and multiple identities in childhood education all over the world.

Group 3) Continuity and Change: Linguistic Diversity
Group coordinator: Emel Türker

One of the areas that should be considered in relation to immigration and globalisation is language. Children with immigrant background go through several processes regarding multiple relations to family, minority immigrant communities and majority community where there can be relatively different socio-cultural and linguistic patterns. The choices and uses of different languages are important for children’s communication within these communities.

Proposals that cover sociolinguistic studies on migration and bilingual/multilingual communities are welcome. Some keywords are; children and their social networks and language choice; their attitudes towards languages; language maintenance/change through generations; a comparative approach to language choice and use concerning the linguistic diversity among immigrant groups in different countries.