Parenting perspectives, trajectories and influences among Ugandan–migrant mothers in Gothenburg, Sweden: Implications on Parent-child relationships

Abstract

It can be argued that there is no correct formula for parenting worldwide although child legislation enshrined in the national and international legal & policy framework guide the children upbringing by their parents or guardians. However, these are activated differently depending on the context within which they are being implemented. Similarly immigrants with children are likely to be entangled in contextual differences of what parenting should be. Any parent feels that his or her ways of parenting are the best; even though these may be contrary to particular societal norms where migration occurs. The immigrants come with several cognitions about parenting but migrating to another country makes the need for change and ideological conflict quite inevitable. Therefore, the study was meant to assess how Ugandan-migrant mothers perceived parenting, what influences modeled their current parenting and how impacts on relationships with their children were likely to be presented. The study was purely qualitative based on exploratory and descriptive analysis of the findings. The primary respondents were Ugandan-migrant mothers in Gothenburg, Sweden; specifically those with children under the age of 18 years. Six (6) out of the planned eight (8) respondents participated in the study. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect the data. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis and themes are illustrated under the chapter of findings and discussed using the appropriate theoretical framework relevant to parenting. The main findings ranged from a)- Ugandan-migrant mothers understood parenting as role modeling, creating friendship with the child, loving the child, teaching and guiding, b)-living as immigrant parents, they commanded discipline and respect from children, understanding their children’s friendship networks, requiring them to integrate but also retain cultural values, c)-mothers reported Swedish supportive initiatives on parenting like providing childfinancial support, free education and health services, access to information technology, as well as social activities for their children d)-Challenges to their parenting involved preserving culture. Swedish child protective laws were reported as potential threats to weakening their parental authority, racism & discrimination which they felt would affect their children’s psychological and emotional development e)-they believed that they had to create more time for their children despite their busy schedules since there were no extended family members to give a helping hand as is the case in Uganda, the role of state in parenting was evident f)- the migrant mother-child relationships were based on openness & negotiation as emphasized in the Swedish context. The mutual benefit between mothers and children were noted as unheard of in the pure Swedish families. More so, mothers remained protective and strict on shaping children’s behavior through denial of materials because physical punishment was abolished in Sweden. In a general overview, the mothers’ parenting paradigm had been slightly altered to fit that of the Swedish society, although their African sentimentalism about parenting had not completely vanished. Hybrids of African and Swedish parenting approaches were interchangeably applied.