行政院國家科學委員會專題研究計畫成果報告:澳洲台灣移民第二代的就業適應與回流之研究(II)

Studies on Taiwanese immigrants to Australia in the last seven years (1998-2005)
have included aspects of social and economic incorporation such as location decisions,
employment, residential mobility and housing preferences. While the age-sex
structure of Taiwanese immigrants is in favor of young males and middle-aged
women, relatively little research have included the younger generations, nor mothers
who take major responsibilities in taking care of the immigrant children, while
husbands may have gone back to Taiwan or other countries for businesses. In recent
years, an increasing number of these young Taiwanese migrants between the ages of
20 and 34 have been returning from Australia.
The research reviewed current literature on transnationalism. It shows that the
transnational practices of the children of immigrants becomes less significant over
time, as their connections to their homelands may be weaker compared to their
parents. This research discusses the motivations of the young returning migrants who
emigrated at young ages with their parents, but who have returned as grown-ups as
well as their levels of adaptation and their self-identities as they move between the
two societies. In addition to a survey of 99 young migrants in the past two years in
Sydney (32), Brisbane (30), and Perth (15), in-depth interviews and focused group
interviews were also carried out. Moreover, 22 in-depth interviews were carried out
with young return immigrants in Taipei. A comparison is made between these two
groups in terms of 1) the decisions for staying in Australia, or returning to Taiwan. 2)
types of problems faced by the 1.5 generations in adapting to the job market in
Australia and Taiwan; and 3) their self-identities in Australia and Taiwan.
The in-depth interview of young return immigrants shows that while joining the
job market for the first time and establishing their careers in Australia and Taiwan,
their adaptation and their self-identities between the two societies are complex in
substance. Before their return, most of them evaluated both the advantages and
disadvantages of the job markets in Taiwan and Australia. However, the chance of
reunions with the families in Taiwan, the search for potential spouses and their
affection towards Taiwan are also important factors affecting their decisions.
The young migrants’ different experiences in the two cultures/societies of Taiwan
and Australia indicate that they have had to adapt to various aspects of their
environments. The circulatory migration and mobility influence their self identity.
Frequently, due to their constant need to adapt to both Taiwanese and Australian
environments, they have developed a dual identity that encompasses Taiwanese and
Australian cultures through which they strive to make the best use of their
backgrounds in the global community.