Based on the results of two empirical research studies, this paper deals with three key issues of immigrant families' life: the migratory fragmentation, their living standard conditions, and the expectations that parents place on their children. The conclusion from this analysis is that the deep social inequalities that characterize the incorporation of immigrants into the Spanish society might determine negatively their children's school and training careers. The paper ends with a critical review of some of the theoretical approaches more common in the studies about migrant families and children of immigrants.

Segmented assimilation theory Children of immigrants Epistemology of migration studies Migratory paths Family

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