{"id":16582,"date":"2026-06-25T12:40:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T04:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/?p=16582"},"modified":"2026-06-25T12:40:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T04:40:26","slug":"thinking-middle-class-migration-is-always-a-smooth-upward-transition-our-research-suggests-otherwise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/thinking-middle-class-migration-is-always-a-smooth-upward-transition-our-research-suggests-otherwise\/","title":{"rendered":"Thinking Middle-class Migration is always a smooth upward transition? Our Research Suggests Otherwise."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Department of Social Science is pleased to announce the publication of a new peer-reviewed research article co-authored by our faculty member, <strong>Professor Lucille Lok Sun Ngan<\/strong>, alongside Queenie Kwan Yee Siu (Australian National University).<\/p>\n<p>The paper, titled <strong>&#8220;Middle-Class Hong Kong Migrants&#8217; Negotiation of Migration Paradoxes: A Life-Course Perspective,&#8221;<\/strong> has been published in journal, <em>Asian Studies Review<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3>Research Overview<\/h3>\n<p>While existing migration literature often characterizes relatively affluent East Asian migrants through the lens of strategic capital accumulation and seamless upward mobility, Professor Ngan and her co-author present a more complex and nuanced reality. Drawing on 57 in-depth interviews with middle-class Hong Kong migrants who relocated to Australia and Canada\u2014the primary destinations for Hong Kong emigration\u2014the study explores the intricate interplay between external structural privilege and internal social precarity.<\/p>\n<p>By adopting a <strong>life-course perspective<\/strong>, the authors examine how shifting relationships, life trajectories, and systemic constraints shape the post-migration settlement process across three distinct cohorts: international students, middle-aged returnee parents, and older long-settled immigrants.<\/p>\n<h3>Key Findings<\/h3>\n<p>The study reveals that rather than experiencing unmitigated success, middle-class migrants frequently navigate a &#8220;paradox of challenges and achievements&#8221; across three primary life domains:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"><strong>Work and Career Trajectories:<\/strong> Despite possessing high educational qualifications and professional skills, many informants encounter systemic constraints and cultural barriers\u2014such as the &#8220;bamboo ceiling&#8221;\u2014resulting in downward career mobility. To manage emotional distress, these migrants often adjust their professional expectations, reframing career adjustments as a necessary sacrifice to attain a better work-life balance and lifestyle for their families.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"><strong>Social Relationships:<\/strong> Cultural differences and language barriers present ongoing challenges to local social integration, frequently leading to shrunken social networks and isolation. The study highlights how migrants negotiate this by adapting their priorities according to their life stage, such as prioritizing academic progress or heavily relying on transnational digital communication to maintain a sense of belonging with networks back in Hong Kong.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"><strong>Family Life and Evolving Dynamics:<\/strong> Driven by the concept of &#8220;linked lives,&#8221; the pursuit of individual or familial advancement often introduces geographical separation and emotional strain. Younger cohorts frequently grapple with deep internal conflict and guilt regarding left-behind ageing parents, while older settled immigrants contend with unexpected loneliness and a sense of abandonment when their adult children leverage their global cultural capital to pursue onward careers internationally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Contributions to the Field<\/h3>\n<p>This research offers a critical contribution to contemporary migration and diaspora studies by demonstrating that economic security does not insulate individuals from severe emotional and social precarity. The authors argue that a comprehensive understanding of &#8220;privileged&#8221; migration requires a holistic framework encompassing life-course transitions, linked family histories, and socio-cultural ramifications. Ultimately, these insights can better inform policymakers and practitioners in creating targeted social support systems that address the multi-layered integration needs of contemporary migrants.<\/p>\n<p>The Department congratulates Professor Ngan on this significant academic milestone, which underscores our faculty&#8217;s commitment to delivering impactful sociological research that addresses pressing global and local societal issues.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Publication Details<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Title:<\/strong> Middle-Class Hong Kong Migrants&#8217; Negotiation of Migration Paradoxes: A Life-Course Perspective<\/li>\n<li><strong>Authors:<\/strong> Lucille Lok Sun Ngan (The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong) &amp; Queenie Kwan Yee Siu (Australian National University)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Journal:<\/strong> <em>Asian Studies Review<\/em>, Vol. 50, No. 3 (2026)<\/li>\n<li><strong>DOI:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10357823.2025.2579506\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10357823.2025.2579506<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>To access the full article, please visit the journal home page or contact the Department of Social Science.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- Program Advertisement Callout Box --><\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f6f8; border-left: 4px solid #005a36; padding: 20px; margin-top: 30px; border-radius: 4px;\">\n<h4 style=\"margin-top: 0; color: #005a36;\">Advancing Social Research and Community Well-being<\/h4>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\">Are you interested in investigating complex social vulnerabilities, analyzing global human mobility, and developing sustainable structures that improve community well-being?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>Explore our advanced training opportunities:<\/strong><br \/>\n\ud83c\udf93 <a style=\"color: #005a36; text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;\" href=\"https:\/\/programme.hsu.edu.hk\/en\/ss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Master of Social Science in Social Sustainability (MSocSc-SS)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Department of Social Science is pleased to announce the publication of a new peer-reviewed research article co-authored by our faculty member, Professor Lucille Lok Sun Ngan, alongside Queenie Kwan Yee Siu (Australian National University). The paper, titled &#8220;Middle-Class Hong Kong Migrants&#8217; Negotiation of Migration Paradoxes: A Life-Course Perspective,&#8221; has been published in journal, Asian Studies Review. Research Overview While existing migration literature often characterizes relatively affluent East Asian migrants through the lens of strategic capital accumulation and seamless upward mobility, Professor Ngan and her co-author present a more complex and nuanced reality. Drawing on 57 in-depth interviews with middle-class Hong Kong migrants who relocated to Australia and Canada\u2014the primary destinations for Hong Kong emigration\u2014the study explores the intricate interplay between external structural privilege and internal social precarity. By adopting a life-course perspective, the authors examine how shifting relationships, life trajectories, and systemic constraints shape the post-migration settlement process across three distinct cohorts: international students, middle-aged returnee parents, and older long-settled immigrants. Key Findings The study reveals that rather than experiencing unmitigated success, middle-class migrants frequently navigate a &#8220;paradox of challenges and achievements&#8221; across three primary life domains: Work and Career Trajectories: Despite possessing high educational qualifications and professional skills, many informants encounter systemic constraints and cultural barriers\u2014such as the &#8220;bamboo ceiling&#8221;\u2014resulting in downward career mobility. To manage emotional distress, these migrants often adjust their professional expectations, reframing career adjustments as a necessary sacrifice to attain a better work-life balance and lifestyle for their families. Social Relationships: Cultural differences and language barriers present ongoing challenges to local social integration, frequently leading to shrunken social networks and isolation. The study highlights how migrants negotiate this by adapting their priorities according to their life stage, such as prioritizing academic progress or heavily relying on transnational digital communication to maintain a sense of belonging with networks back in Hong Kong. Family Life and Evolving Dynamics: Driven by the concept of &#8220;linked lives,&#8221; the pursuit of individual or familial advancement often introduces geographical separation and emotional strain. Younger cohorts frequently grapple with deep internal conflict and guilt regarding left-behind ageing parents, while older settled immigrants contend with unexpected loneliness and a sense of abandonment when their adult children leverage their global cultural capital to pursue onward careers internationally. Contributions to the Field This research offers a critical contribution to contemporary migration and diaspora studies by demonstrating that economic security does not insulate individuals from severe emotional and social precarity. The authors argue that a comprehensive understanding of &#8220;privileged&#8221; migration requires a holistic framework encompassing life-course transitions, linked family histories, and socio-cultural ramifications. Ultimately, these insights can better inform policymakers and practitioners in creating targeted social support systems that address the multi-layered integration needs of contemporary migrants. The Department congratulates Professor Ngan on this significant academic milestone, which underscores our faculty&#8217;s commitment to delivering impactful sociological research that addresses pressing global and local societal issues. Publication Details Title: Middle-Class Hong Kong Migrants&#8217; Negotiation of Migration Paradoxes: A Life-Course Perspective Authors: Lucille Lok Sun Ngan (The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong) &amp; Queenie Kwan Yee Siu (Australian National University) Journal: Asian Studies Review, Vol. 50, No. 3 (2026) DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10357823.2025.2579506 To access the full article, please visit the journal home page or contact the Department of Social Science. Advancing Social Research and Community Well-being Are you interested in investigating complex social vulnerabilities, analyzing global human mobility, and developing sustainable structures that improve community well-being? Explore our advanced training opportunities: \ud83c\udf93 Master of Social Science in Social Sustainability (MSocSc-SS)<\/p>","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":16577,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[76,62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-76","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16582"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16582\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16585,"href":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16582\/revisions\/16585"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssc.hsu.edu.hk\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}