City and island : Dominicans in Lawrence : transnational community formation in a globalizing world
Name
44040439-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
8.81 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
e78c92a565043583b7789425ff119a91
Author(s)
Andors, Jessica, 1971-
Advisor(s)
Aixa Cintrón.
Alternative Title
Case study of the Dominican community in Lawrence, MA as a manifestation of changing immigration patterns and transnational community formation in a globalizing world
Date Issued
1999
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
As an exploration of the Dominican immigrant community in Lawrence, Massachusetts, this thesis seeks to understand how the continuing motives for migration, as well as the barriers and opportunities facing Dominicans in Lawrence, depend on a complex intersection of political, economic, cultural, and social forces linking the Dominican Republic and the City. Historic economic and political ties create strong objective and cultural-ideological links between the Island and the United States and give rise to a set of transnational practices through which immigrants maintain ties to their homeland. The history of the City also intersects with a restructuring of the regional and global economy to shape the nature of immigrant incorporation into local labor markets and political and social structures. Dominicans in Lawrence negotiate through these structures by engaging in a broad variety of both transnational and creole practices-involving ties to the Island and cultural adaptations in the City-that in many ways represent a continuity with previous immigrant strategies. Political and economic advancement for Dominicans in the City is complicated by the interaction between objective difficulties, such as the language barrier and persistent racism, and more subjective frameworks such as the American Dream and the dream of returning to the Island. Community development efforts aimed at overcoming these complications should build on the family and social networks of the community and make use of the creative transnational ties that Dominicans in the City have forged.
Description
Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1999.
In English, with interviews in English or Spanish.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-106).
Subjects
Urban Studies and Planning.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Urban Studies and Planning
Terms of Use
M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
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