Resettlement experiences of five Chinese skilled women migrants to Australia

Abstract

A rich migration literature has been written on the issues and difficulties that Chinese migrants encountered in their adjustment in various host countries. Instead of focusing on negative migration experiences, this paper aims to examine the subjective experiences of middle-class Chinese women who perceived themselves as successfully settled in Australia. More specifically, this paper analyzes the in-depth interviews of five skilled women migrants from Hong Kong to understand how they were able to overcome obstacles during their early resettlement years. A content analysis of interviews allowed themes to emerge that revealed how the five women were able to resettle in Australia. Their responses fall into three themes that are explored in this paper: (1) common issues faced at the start of resettlement, (2) the recognition of individual resilience and informal social support in facing adversity and resettlement in Australia, and (3) possible strategies to orient themselves to life in a new country.