Yolanda Hernandez Albujar (2007) is featured in this chapter explaining her ethnographic study of undocumented mothers’ migration experiences using video recordings to retell their stories. Recorded video as a research tool in this case seems problematic, potentially revealing the identities of women who were subject to suffering consequences if exposed for their illegal status. Considering the nature of Albujars (2007) study I understand why she wanted to create emotionally triggering material to truly illustrate the mother's experience. I see symbolic interaction theory as the focal point of theory for this qualitative research study attempting to liberate woman and include the female experience of embarking on this journey of migration. Each mother will tell of a unique experience, feeling, and outcome that is symbolic to them independent of their individual life story and what migration meant to them. Some women may be scared and worried for their future while others are hopeful and happy moving on to new opportunity. Some may be doing it only for their children and feel indifferent about how it will affect them. Another thought to consider is the final destination of the migrant. You associate feelings of relief, happiness a place meant to symbolize the person arriving to a newfound freedom, however, during the transitional period they are undocumented, trapped as a person with an illegal citizenship status. Even Rome can feel like a holding cell when everything you do revolves around the fact that you are breaking the law and could be severely punished, how can you anyone feel refuge under such circumstances? At the time Rome had the highest concentration of Latin American immigrants coming into Italy in the decade preceding this study. Under the influence of postmodern Feminist theory, Albujar (2007) felt she had an obligation to provide representation for women migrants who were not recognized in the male dominated perspective of human experiences surrounding immigration. Her idea was to present a feminist or female account and claim their place in the age-old human experienced that was focused on the mother’s experience of migration. Under reflection the knowledge or beliefs I personally hold about immigrants agree with this claim and realize immigration somehow is ungendered in my mind. Specifically, I think of children, women, and men all immigrating collectively with no concept of the uniquely female aspects of this event. Considerable factors I can now understand would put the female role under specific pressure creating challenges aligned with gender including pregnancy and motherhood that become stigmatized by the hardships endured by immigrants. There is also a generalized idea that most immigrants are male being the ones to sacrifice and take on risks involved with the process while women and children remain at home to safely collect money awaiting safer means of relocation.
The struggle of migrant women in Italy extends to the status they acquire and work available to them. Within their own family units, a mother’s role is altered by a multitude of changing dynamics attached to immigration. Children who speak the native language fluently assume added responsibility and positions of power not traditionally welcomed by their culture, and even disrespectful to most mothers. Others suffer severely being detached from children who did not make the move causing separation anxiety or depression until a reunion with those who return to them after years apart, Albujar (2007) explores immigration through the role of motherhood to represent women in a way that is universally symbolic and easily understood by its well known sentiment. All mothers can relate to the challenges this role presents and should empathize with the added stress affecting women dealing with struggles regarding Immigration.
Reflecting on my first consideration on the importance of applying visual methods in sociology the new concept had me asking the question, when is visual imagery not relevant to any topic being researched? Learning a new concept usually involves visual tools, which is why the author felt video methodology using symbolic images delivers a presentation not easy to ignore. Prior to her investigation Albujar (2007) began taking courses at the University of Florida that informed her on how to shoot and edit video in a way that detailed narratives purposefully for social research. Video over photography was decided on for its ability to reproduce the experiences communicated by the mother’s accounts of migration and for amplified opportunities of exposure in the popularized media using the internet. The postmodern element of this study is wrapped in conflict theory which is demonstrated by the comparison of the voyeuristic nature of the information age regarded by Albujar (2007) as “a new form of colonialization”. New knowledge sources are controlled by the powerful dominating classes to control the intake of mass audiences and he ones they observe and become informed about. The third party to this conflict plays a passive role gaining nothing from these exchanges. This creates a singular version of the truth that is circulated as the new knowledge to be accepted by all in the authors opinion.
A specific research question guided this study asking the mothers how their identity transfer from their home country to their new life in Italy?”. Interviews and analysis were inspired by her theory and motivation to expose the voices silenced by the socially constructed view of migration. Designing to inspire viewer introspection, the film resulted as a montage of metaphorical images recalling feelings. These images are neither facts nor linear Narratives (p.287, 2007). Trading a concern of validity for the ability to generate new information and introspection on the topic this film, entitled voices, is a negotiated idea of reality interpreted between participants and the researcher. Attending a chur gathering of Latin American migrant women on Thursday and Sundays potential participants were accessed through snowballing, a solution to the limited access the original plan was going to produce. The issue of video recording interviews received different objections from the study population ranging from fear of illegal status to camera shyness Limitations from the participants representation on camera led the visual aspect to come from a phenomenological perspective that was not planned. After analyzing Interview data images were chosen to represent how the mothers were affected conveying the personal feelings, they experienced using the pillars of symbolic interactionist theory displaying images with heavy meaning attached to imagery symbolically connecting the audio of the women’s voices telling their story. Women expressed in their interviews the hardships of leaving home and migrating while symbolic images were used metaphorically to trigger emotions that are being expressed by the interviewees without showing their faces. Hearing discourse without seeing the person speaking meant added imagery which included random footage taken in Italy of Latin American women and symbols thematically appropriate such as water a metaphor used for motherhood and fertility being the elemental life force first experienced in our mother’s womb. Holding a separate meaning for migrants substantially in that what stands between Latin America and Italy is a body of water.
Although this seems strange for a study of mother migrant workers this form of research seems suited for my study on meditation taking some pressure off my participants not their identity, my concern is their ability to convey the benefits of meditation experience in a way that is well received and spoken word doesn’t seem to be very effective. To relate a subconscious practice exercised to quiet the mind meditation is something that must be experienced to fully understand and appreciate its benefits. I think imagery and montage of symbolic metaphors is appropriate for triggering or imitating emotions. In my case anyone not familiar with the concept of meditation will probably not be impacted much by hearing findings recited from my research. Conveying a symbolic summary with images of a spiritual journey into enlightenment, natural healing, and positive feelings by accessing the subconscious mind during Meditation makes it a observable phenomenon difficult to explain and interpret otherwise. If I had read this chapter a month ago my project would be perfect case for this style of research. Ideally by creating a meditative atmosphere symbolically from images representing inner peace that is accessed by quieting the mind and focusing on the breath, like a smooth stream, singing bowls, or meditation frequencies and tones playing with Images of paradise evoking complete relaxation a symbolic Nirvana.Gregory C. Stanczak (2007) Visual Research Methods: Image, Society, and Representation (VRMISR), Sage Publications