|
Research:
Spirituality and Human Development
Program
The Economic Socialization
of Children of Immigrants:
Lebanese Maronites and Muslims
Lawrence Gianinno, Ph.D.
We have begun a series of studies in the Boston metropolitan area to
determine what children of recent immigrants understand about their
economic world and what the everyday economic practices are in which
they engage. The research, funded the William T. Grant Foundation,
seeks also to identify the family and community-related experiences
that influence the development of this kind of understanding and
behavior. The initial studies focus on the (9-12 year old) children
of Lebanese immigrants who are members of the area's Maronite and
Muslim communities. This series of studies is the first of their
kind to systematically examine the relationship that ethnicity and
religion may play in shaping the economic values and practices of
children of immigrants. The goal of this research is to inform
parents and teachers of the children of immigrants about the roles
they can play to help children develop the perspective and skills
needed to function competently and productively in today's
increasingly competitive economic world.
|