Problem-oriented public discourses about families with an immigrant background shape the ways in which these families are seen in society, as well as the social positions it is possible for them to aspire to. Drawing on interview data, this article focuses on how family members with an immigrant background navigate their way through problem-centred discourses when speaking about their own family life. The article suggests that the construct of ‘a respectable family’ acts as a way to counter stereotypes and to claim a more valued position in society, and it can be found in both idealized descriptions of one's own family and in conflict narratives.
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