Author Description
Labor and Legality: An Ethnography of a Mexican Immigrant Network, Tenth Anniversary Edition, is an ethnography of undocumented immigrants who work as busboys at a Chicago-area restaurant. Ruth Gomberg-Muñoz introduces readers to the Lions, ten friends from Mexico committed to improving their fortunes and the lives of their families. Set in and around "Il Vino," a restaurant that could stand in for many places that employ undocumented workers, The Tenth Anniversary Edition of Labor and Legality reveals the faces behind the war being waged over "illegal immigrants" in America. Gomberg-Muñoz focuses on how undocumented workers develop a wide range of social strategies to cultivate financial security, nurture emotional well-being, and promote their dignity and self-esteem. She also reviews the political and historical circumstances of undocumented migration, with an emphasis on post-1970 socioeconomic and political conditions in the United States and Mexico.Labor and Legality, Tenth Anniversary Edition, is one of many volumes in the series ISSUES OF GLOBALIZATION: CASE STUDIES IN CONTEMPORARY ANTHROPOLOGY, which introduces key concepts and theories of globalization through rich and compelling ethnography. It offers new research through case studies in a style and format appropriate for both students and scholars of Anthropology and related fields. Each volume offers a brief and engaging exploration of a particular issue arising from globalization and its cultural, political, and economic effects on certain peoples or groups.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the social strategies and lived experiences of undocumented Mexican immigrants navigating the precarious labor market and political climate of the United States. Ruth Gomberg-Muñoz, an anthropologist, utilizes long-term ethnographic fieldwork conducted within a Chicago-area restaurant to document the lives of ten friends known as the Lions. By examining their daily interactions, financial management, and emotional support systems, the author challenges prevailing political narratives regarding undocumented workers and highlights their agency in the face of systemic marginalization.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed ethnographic accounts of ten undocumented busboys working at a restaurant called Il Vino.
- Analysis of social strategies used to maintain financial security and emotional well-being.
- Historical and political context of migration patterns between Mexico and the United States post-1970.
Scope Limits
- The study is geographically limited to a specific restaurant network in the Chicago area.
- The research focuses primarily on male immigrant experiences within the service industry.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students of anthropology frequently cite this text as a foundational case study for understanding the intersection of labor, legality, and social networks. Readers often note the accessibility of the prose, which balances academic rigor with the personal narratives of the subjects involved.
Page Count:
848
Publication Date:
2019-11-29
Publisher:
Oxford University Press Academic US
ISBN-10:
0190076496
ISBN-13:
9780190076498
Anthropology - Cultural
General Anthropology
Cultural
Ethnography
Labor Studies
Anthropology
Social Science
American Studies
Sociology
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