Continuing Business as Usual: A Case Study of Hialeah, Florida

Keywords: Latinos, Cuban immigrants, sex spatial distribution, ethnic enclave, globalization

INTRODUCTION

This article artificial positions research questions about the issue of spatial distribution of immigrant women in urban environments and the impact of occupational segregation issues based upon gender and race that is exacerbated by means of economic globalization. That is, by what means has the relationship between more new emigres and those of the past industrial expansion period changed? A case research is provided exploring the experiences of freshly immigrated women from Cuba within the ethnic communities of Hialeah, Florida. in what way have they been absorbed into the business sector of this community?

Recent Cuban ?©migr?©s, as well as low-income women across the nation, are experiencing a similar "spatial mismatch" (Queralt and Witte 1998 p 455; Waldinger 1996 p 35) between the availability of piece of works with adequate wages (usually in suburban areas) and the areas where they reside (Allen and Kirby 2000) Complicating that factor is the spatial distribution of child care services, nursing dwellings for elderly relatives, and the lack of public transportation between residential areas and the location of better paying piece of works often in suburban areas. Commuting time is a significant factor because women strive to be shut to their residences in order to balance their business and family responsibilities.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Migration streams from Europe in the late 1800's and early 1900's included migrants who worked drawn out hours in negative and frequently hazardous working conditions to pave the way for an improved situation for their children. With trade opportunities available in textiles and manufacturing, the absorption of immigrants into the craft sector was swift. Tenement housing exhibited in urban areas within shut up proximity to major urban center As immigrants learned social skills and were assimilated into their environment they mov from the lowest paying piece of works to more skilled employment that increased wages, and improved housing options. Immigrants continue to take the place of those who come [i]or[/i] go after [i]or[/i] behind the track of upward mobility. However, "the social ladder no longer works, or no longer works with similar force" (Waldinger, 1996 p 40) to be paid to global economic realities as well as differences between immigrant groups

Moreover, advances in mass transit and the use of automobiles have widened the distance between residences and places of craft providing more options for workers. As the geographical division developed there were eventually areas that became industrial disentanglement centers or districts (Sorenson 2003; Stafford 2003) This occurr flat when the concept of efficiency was not consistent with the pattern to be paid to the reliance on "social networks" or the universal of "social proximity" (Sorenson 2003 p 515) This research note reviews the issue of the use of female immigrant labor in the manufacturing sector in a global economy. This make submissive requires additional attention within the industrial geographical literature.

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION, GLOBALIZATION AND THE SLOW-DOWN OF UPWARD MOBILITY

This social connection is pivotal when examining the spatial distribution of populations in urban center based upon the development of "ethnic niches" (Waldinger 1996 p 4) Within these ethnic enclaves informal connections are made for newcomer to take the place of their co-ethnic counterparts who have mov upon to other employment. Waldinger (1996) referr to the economy in these areas that created a "virtuous circle" (p 42) because the novel immigrants who replaced earlier individuals can be easily exploited as fluctuations in the economy or production extremitys occur.

However, this pattern is being altered owed to the need for small manufacturers of the like kind as those in Hialeah to utilize depressed wages to remain competitive within a global economy and avoid moving their operations without of the country. This metropolitan area shows one of the top 25 areas noted across the geographical division with expanding economies (Workforce Weekly 2004)

However, despite the positive business climate the impact of globalization is causing a significant change from prior social mobility patterns. Hiring new immigrants with limited English proficiency is advantageous because it provides inexpensive laborers who are vulnerable to exploitation because of the cultural faculty of perception of belonging within the ethnic enclave. The abundant immigrant labor pond creates competition for employment between new immigrants and the immigrants who have been in the land for a longer time period as well as the native population. The snare effects include greater fluctuations in craft lower wages, and longer work hours. For relatively new Cuban ?©migr?©s, there is also competition with immigrants from Central America, the Caribbean, native whites and African Americans (Zsembik 2000) Previous immigrants did not have to consider possible economic competition from their homeland because manufacturing plants could be relocated to these locales to restore labor costs and stay competitive.