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One of the little discussed dynamics about "migration" into the EU and UK from North Africa and the Middle East and Western Asia is the fact that it is mainly young men. This tends to be seen (when it is even mentioned) as young men seeking their fortune. However further investigation gives this a different cast; that many of these young men are responsible for their family and work to send money "home" to parents and other "dependents", one significant driver is that if the father dies the sons become responsible, which gives the responsibility to often boys (in our culture). I'm not advocating this just observing the different cultural expectation in societies unlike ours (which gets it head around seeking your own fortune, or even to send money to wife and kids). Certainly here there is still the expectation that males "take care" of "partners" and their children, even while supposedly being reinforcing "patriarchy"; and being misogynist if they express pride or satisfaction in doing so. Yet a popular political trope is punishing "dead beat dads" really because they aren't doing the very things that are supposedly outdated gender norms and next steps to "abuse"! Again though I don't think its good for anyone to ignore their responsibilities but there seems a dramatic double standard at work here.

Jun 28, 2024
at
7:25 PM

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