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Paper Short Abstract:

This empirical study focuses on the question of individual projects of ‘moving up’ with a comparative eye in a transnational setting. The study was conducted in the Austrian capital city Vienna among Turkish middle aged women divided into two groups of three migrants and three expats.

Paper Abstract:

The purpose of this comparison between the educated, economically advantaged group of expats versus migrant women with essentially ‘marriage strategies’ is to delve into their individual vigilance. They all follow a different strategy of vigilance, watchfulness although they all have the same aspiration as to move to a European country, temporarily or for a lifetime. The point of departure in their conceptions of ‘upward mobility’ is to move from their home country for better lives. Social mobility with marriage strategies did not bring migrant women the dream of ultimate happiness, on the contrary, they got divorced, faced living as single parents, unemployed and ‘feeling as a second class people’ in foreign lands. The lack of German knowledge is the most challenging problem for them. Despite their ‘unhappiness’, for their children’s better education opportunities, they want to stay. There is much less to offer there to kids in terms of public education and cultural activities like ballet or swimming school. Despite the disadvantages of being a migrant in a country in which they are not able to speak the local language, their point of ‘moving up’ is only partially realised through having kids. They see kids as a step of ‘upward mobility’, an investment for the future, hoping that they would be taken care of by them when they get older. The other group of highly qualified expat women came to Vienna for ‘career opportunities’ as they said they are better paid than their home country.