Values of Immigrants’ Family or Values of Residing Society? A Typical Pattern

Yaghoob Foroutan, University of Mazandaran

This paper examines the competing role of the values of immigrants’ family and the values of their residing country for the attitudes of female migrants in Australia. The indicator used, the context of the study, the method of analysis, and the particular focus group of this study provide the opportunity to deal appropriately with this key objective. This paper gives specific attention to the female migrants from the Middle East and North Africa region living in the multi-ethnic and multicultural context of Australia. The region offers an opportunity to test for the competing roles for women - 'home and family' versus the opportunity to work outside the home and family. This contrast presents an empirical basis to examine whether the values associated with family or the predominant values of residing country are more influential.