Growing-up young adults and their social agency in migration: how Ukrainian children initiate and mediate their own migration within the family unit

Abstract

In an earlier period of migration studies, young people were overlooked, but scholars later began to study their position and perspective. Within the transnational family they are often studied as “abandoned” in the country of origin or as reunified with parent(s) in the country of immigration. Nevertheless, in both cases parents are seen as decision-makers whether young people will migrate or stay. A different angle provides studies of independent child migration or unaccompanied minors from Africa or Latin America. These young people are capable of developing their agency to the extent that they can migrate alone and neglect negotiation with parents as a result of conflict or different objectives. This article elaborates this topic and shows that growing-up adults from Western Ukraine (15–16 years-old when migrated) are also social agents, capable of triggering their own migration independently of parents as a consequence of experience from short-term stays in the country of immigration, as well as meritocratic principles and distinct generational outlooks.