Childcare ideals among second generation Muslim Moroccan immigrants in Flanders

ABSTRACT

The materialization of positive effects connected to formal childcare uptake for parents and children – particularly those with vulnerable backgrounds – critically depends on attitudes towards uptake among different population subgroups, such as immigrants, or their descendants. However, such population heterogeneity has hitherto been insufficiently acknowledged. As a result, this study uses 24 in-depth interviews to uncover varying maternal employment and childcare ideals, presenting a typology for Muslim Descendants of Moroccan Immigrants in Flanders. I demonstrate that the previously identified Flemish ideal of the ‘surrogate mother’ does not apply to mothers on the intersection of being a worker, having a second generation Moroccan migration background, and being Muslim. Furthermore, highlighting heterogeneity within this group, empirical support is provided for five different positions with respect to maternal employment and childcare ideals. Hence this study contributes to the available literature on childcare ideals by focusing on a subgroup of particular importance, second generation Muslim Moroccan immigrants, and indicating considerable variation in motherhood and childcare ideals even within this subgroup. In addition to the theoretical contribution of the typology, the article also provides essential input to policy makers on particular care ideals and related needs.

KEYWORDS:

• formal childcare
• care ideals
• second generation
• Moroccan descent
• Belgium

Acknowledgements

The author declares to have no financial interest or benefit from direct applications of the presented research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research Foundation Flanders [grant number 12ZA821N: COPE Project].

Notes on contributors

Jonas Wood

Jonas Wood is Guest Professor and Senior Researcher at the University of Antwerp. He studies family and labor market transitions in Belgium and Europe. Particular attention is paid to varying patterns by population subgroups such as educational groups or different migration backgrounds. In addition, context-contingencies such as effects of economic cycles and social policies are assessed. In order to disentangle varying family and labor market behaviors by population subgroups and contexts, his research relies on longitudinal quantitative or mixed method research designs.