How the language of migration put expats on a pedestal – and left immigrants in the dust
Back to Topic
Click to Print
Useful Websites
Glossary Term Selection
Whether it’s a conscious or subconscious decision, there’s no denying that these terms represent double standards in society’s view on who has a right to move freely around the world, writes Nicole Chui.
Growing up in Hong Kong, I was constantly surrounded by people from around the world. From the UK to South Africa and Canada, I was exposed to a number of different cultures in my day-to-day life, especially in school. But it wasn’t until middle school, where acquaintances would casually use two distinct terms to define either affluent or poorer areas of the city, that I really began to take notice of the significance of the language of immigration.
Based on what I observed, it was clear that whenever someone referred to a person as an ‘expat’, they generally tended to be middle to upper-class native English speakers, working in professions such as banking, tech, education or creative roles. When it came to the word ‘immigrant’, the term tended to apply loosely to both blue-collar w...
Want to see the rest of this article?
Would you like to see the rest of this article and all the other benefits that Issues Online can provide with?
- Useful related articles
- Video and multimedia references
- Statistical information and reference material
- Glossary of terms
- Key Facts and figures
- Related assignments
- Resource material and websites
