All posts by maria.haley

11.3 Media Reflection

https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/china-development-transformed-migration

Heidi Ostbo Haugen and Tabitha Speelman’s  article “China’s Rapid Development Has Transformed Its Migration Trends,” discusses the internal migration trends of China and the role that the history of socioeconomic reforms play in the increase. According to Ostbo Haugen and Speelman (2022), “The story of China’s mobility boom starts at home, with millions of internal migrants moving from the country’s rural interior to the coastal areas, where they have contributed to the country’s urbanization and export-driven manufacturing growth.” The 2020 census identified nearly 376 million people lived someplace other than their household registration areas. This change in location has caught China’s attention and caused it to analyze more about these changes. 

Ostbo Haugen and Speelman also discuss how China’s strict family planning policies from the 1980s has had an impact on the reasoning behind why there are smaller working groups entering the labor force. Ostbo Haugen and Speelman state that “labor shortages did not drive the surge in international migration to China in this period, and little precedent or regulation exists for the immigration of unskilled workers. Instead, increased immigration was a result of new professional, commercial, and educational opportunities in China.” The ever changing population contributes to the socioeconomic status of the country. 

When I came across this article it really connected to the material we read and analyzed in the module. With an increase of humans there is the need to change or adjust infrastructure to the area. In Internal migration within China, Australian Geography Teachers Association states that “When populations migrate there is a changed demand on infrastructure in both the place they emigrate from and the place they immigrate to.” This reminds us to always have a global perspective when considering important decisions for major groups of people. Constant changes in populations, as seen in China, requires meeting the ever changing needs of the population. 

References: 

Australian Geography Teachers Association (2013) Internal migration within China. Educational     resource authored for Teachers and Students F-10.

Ostbo Haugen, Heidi and Speelman, Tabitha. (2022, January 28) China’s Rapid Development Has Transformed Its Migration Trends. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/china-development-transformed-migration

6.3 Media Reflection

In this module one of the guiding questions is: How can we stay true to the depth needed in research, but geographically follow the lives of immigrant populations? The video I shared is titled The Shifting Border: How Nation States Control Human Mobility. In the video, Professor Ayelet Shachar states that “If we are thinking about borders, we can’t just look at how individuals move across borders. We actually want to look at how borders themselves move to regulate mobility (TED, 2021, 1:46). The model she is suggesting is a shifting border, as opposed to a static or disappearing border. In the video she analyzes how this looks in the United States, Canada, and Australia. She has ultimately set out to comprehend how states are regulating mobility, migration, and citizenship, and how we might imagine membership, diversity, and inclusion under these new circumstances. On Youtube.com, Shachar argues that if borders are dynamic, then human rights should be equally agile.

With the increasing unknown of the “why” behind individuals’ mobility and joining new communities, it is important to have an understanding of circumstances. Despite what some may believe, it is often not financially driven. In his article “Comprehensive Immigrant Confusion,” Peter Skerry (2016) states that “Indeed, it is remarkable how few Americans display curiosity about what leads individuals to incur the considerable inconvenience and risk of moving here, especially illegally. As economic historians remind us, only a tiny fraction of the world’s population has ever left home in search of substantial economic gains.”  When there is a better understanding of individuals’ mobility, communities will have a better understanding of the notion of shifting borders and how we can better meet the needs of newcomers and their needs. Research must constantly be done in an ever changing world to understand mobility so beneficial plans and policies are in place. 

Skerry, P. (2016) Comprehensive Immigration Confusion. Article published in National Affairs

The Shifting Border: How Nation States Control Human Mobility. (2021, February

     9). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eoDXOzqlAY

Welcome!

Welcome phrase words cloud concept

This poster hangs in the front lobby of my school. I smile every morning when I walk by it because it serves as a reminder that no matter who you are or where you are from, you are welcome in our school community. 

I often wonder what students think when they view this poster. I hope that when a new student from another county enters the school they can find “welcome” in their language and know they are seen and will be accepted for who they are.