Migrant children at school: How gender influences adaptation

Abstract

The ethical issues of adaptation of ethnic migrant children retain their relevance taking into account the high influx of migrant labourers during the previous decade both in the territory of Russia as a whole as well as Siberia. The authors explore the problems that these students face as they relate to gender and their sociocultural and educational adaptation in the learning environment of a secondary school. Considering international and Russian experience of gender studies in this field, the authors concentrate on the differences in the process of adaptation in girls and boys. Based on the analysis of the result of an original sociological study, the paper characterizes gender tendencies in a subjective assessment of school performance in migrant students, organization of additional activities within the curricula and elective courses, camps and workshops, and involvement in various celebrations. An evaluation of the correlation between cultural and educational practices of the host society and traditional models of upbringing boys and girls has been made. The authors draw attention to the necessity of undertaking various and different approaches in terms of assisting each gender to adapt to the learning environment. The findings are useful for teachers, social workers and school psychologists working with migrant students.