Get to know Manuel Holz, sociologist

1) What do you do?

I am currently working on my Ph.D in Sociology, while teaching the use of computer programs for statistical analysis to undergrad students. In my research, I focus on the quantitative analysis of migration and inequality, e.g. how the experience as a migrant (especially from poorer countries) in a post-industrial country (like Germany, the U.S., UK and so on) affects socioeconomic outcomes and wellbeing. I am working on several papers, where I discuss the effects of migration and occupational segregation on migrant health, making the mechanisms of inequality visible.

For example, I could show, with the use of panel data, that migrants tend to arrive in Germany with more positive health outcomes (less often restricted by their health in their daily lives), since migration is attached to certain costs that have to be overcome, which lowers the probability to migrate if you have any health problems. But this health advantage will decline over time, since the migrant experience is connected to have lower levels of income, higher exposure to health detrimental factors at work and less access to medical service. 

I also found significant differences in health outcomes of migrants who work in more segregated occupations, compared to migrants in jobs that are not typically associated with a high share of migrants. But this health disadvantage is more profound for immigrant women. An explanation for this can be the twofold discrimination on the labour market for migrants and women. The effects are also attributable to the role overload, since women from more traditional countries are socialized to take care of reproductive work (raising children) and the maintenance of the household, which leaves less time and resources to take care of oneself, stay healthy and so on.

At the same time I’m into Big Data analysis, I like to be one of the pioneers who bring empirical social research to the next level. I once programmed a script to develop a database that collected data on every nuclear reactor in the world. I think this is where research in the future is going, using user-generated data (like social media) for statistical analysis.    

2) Where do you work?

I work at Chemnitz University of Technology. It’s a small city in the East of Germany.

3) Tell us about the photos!

[Left:] Me trying to find statistical measures of altruism and realizing that its meaningless to measure something like that with standardized questionnaires.

[Right:] Me revealing the truth to the people by ascertaining to them that it is “my life” (Karaoke in Berlin)  

4) Tell us about your academic career path so far

Well, I went to a small provincial town elementary and High School in the South of Germany in Bavaria. Then I didn’t get too far, I studied Socioeconomics at the Friedrich Alexander University in the City of Nuremberg (they call it the ‘metropolitan city of the south’, but well, I don’t know what they mean by that). 

I did both my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree there, but I escaped twice to study abroad. I went also to the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain and to the National Autonomous University of Mexico City. I worked as an intern for a big research institute in Berlin, Germany, this is where I learned about Big Data analysis. 

For my Ph.D. I went to the East of Germany, and I am currently working at the Chemnitz University of Technology, where I teach statistics to undergrads, do my research and coordinate exchange programs for international students.

5) Anything else you’d like to share?

I think it is very important to make academics, professionals, teachers or public figures with a migrational background more visible to the public. Especially in those richer countries, where migrants typically hold low levels of education and income. This way children of the immigrant working class will experience that they could be anywhere, they could become anything they want. Anything from butcher to lawyer, barista to surgeon, mechanic to researcher and so on. 

Representation in all of the professions will give children the impression that they are not restricted to one occupational field. I was very lucky. When I was child we never had a lot of money since we were part of the immigrant working class. Typically, the career paths for us wouldn’t allow for social mobility, but with the support of my family and a load of luck I somehow made it to academia. 

Meet Yasmin Ortiga, sociologist

1) What do you do?

I am a sociologist interested in issues related to migration, education, and work. I like to study how ideas about “skill” and “knowledge” define the way people pursue their migration dreams, and how this also changes the purpose of schools within migrant-sending countries. I started out by investigating how Philippine universities attempt to educate their students for “export” (expanding courses like nursing and HRM). Now, I’m looking at a growing influx of international students (some from as far as Nigeria and Yemen) into these schools. I never thought this would really be possible!

2) Where do you work?

I am an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Singapore Management University.

3) Tell us about the photos!

[Left:] People often don’t realize that an academic’s work is not only doing research, but actually writing it down! Journal articles, newspaper columns, and annual reports all require the skill of clarity and storytelling. Sadly, they don’t teach you any of this in grad school. The nice thing about this work is that it’s really flexible – you can write in your pajamas, at home, or in a nice cafe. The con of writing is that people often think you’re not doing anything (because you’re still in your pajamas or eating cookies at the same time).

[Right:] I used to consider myself an illustrator, but I haven’t drawn anything since I began my PhD (at hanggang ngayon wala pa rin!). This photo is how I like to feed my “artist self”: spending a slow afternoon at a museum, and taking extra time to read all the captions. This artwork is by a group called teamLab, artists who like to combined technology, science, and art.

4) Tell us about your academic career path so far. 

I thought I wanted to be a doctor so I took B.A. Psychology as a pre-med course at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. After Biology 11, I quickly realized that medicine wasn’t for me. Dr. Beth De Castro’s class on field methods made me fall in love with qualitative research so I worked for her research center for a year before I did my master’s in Human Development at Harvard University. I then spent three years working at the National Institute of Education, Singapore before deciding to pursue a PhD in Syracuse University. Throughout this entire path, the best decision I made was to work first before doing the PhD. :)

5) Anything else you’d like to share?

Meet Verna Dinah Q. Viajar:

1) What do you do?

I am currently a Ph.D. candidate at the Graduate School of Socio-Ecological Research for Development, International Center for Development and Decent Work, University of Kassel, Germany. Now that I am based in the Philippines, I am finishing my dissertation while being a research fellow at the Labour Research Institute in Quezon City. 

My dissertation, entitled, “Organizing strategies of migrant domestic workers in Malaysia: spaces, constraints and tensions”, is about how migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Malaysia seek to empower themselves. I approach my research by developing an analytical framework using theories from gender political economy and critical studies specifically from neo-Gramscian and social reproduction theories.

2) Where do you work?

At the moment, I am doing research projects as a freelance consultant for non-government organizations, trade unions, foundations and universities here and abroad. While doing my Ph.D. studies in Germany for four years, I worked as teaching assistant and university tutor in political science at the University of Kassel. Previously in the Philippines, I was program coordinator and senior researcher at the of the Labour Education and Research Network and briefly as faculty member at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines, Diliman.

3) Tell us about the photos!

[Left:] Here, I am presenting a brief snapshot of my dissertation focusing on the dimensions of precarity of migrant domestic workers in Malaysia during the Global Labour University (GLU) Asia Alumni Regional Workshop at the School of Labor and Industrial Relations, University of the Philippines. This was taken on 9 August 2016. I also co-coordinated this international workshop together with the ICDD, University of Kassel and UP SOLAIR. (More details here and here.)

[Right:] Sightseeing at a historical museum in Seremban, Malaysia. I took a brief holiday from my six-week field research in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Malaysia; taken on August 2014.

4) Tell us about your academic career path so far. 

After finishing high school in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte in Mindanao, I took up Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Even before finishing my thesis, I worked for a labor NGO assisting trade unions in their education and research programs. It seems that development work, education and research were the signposts that shaped my professional and academic career through the years. 

After eight years in the labor movement, I went back to the academia as university researcher for the UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Third World Studies Center, published a book on globalization discourse, continued involvement in the progressive movement and did research visits in Thailand and South Africa. 

In 2004, I went for a one-year Master of Arts program for the Global Labour University based in University of Kassel and Berlin School of Economics. I came back to work as research consultant for NGOs and briefly as assistant professor at the department of political science in UP Diliman. After six years, I went back to Germany to pursue my PhD studies at the University of Kassel.

5) Anything else you’d like to share?

Throughout my professional career, I have always been involved both in the development/NGO work and in the academia either at the same time or one after another. Most probably my involvement in the student movement in UP immediately after the Martial Law period influenced how I continued to get involved in the anti-bases movement and anti-Marcos protests even outside the campus. 

While working with NGOs, I was exposed to local and international labour movements and with other social movements such as human rights, peace, environmental and women’s movements in the Philippines. These experiences have shaped my approaches in research and education towards community development and activist scholarship. 

M&TC:

TODAY in the Bronx Masa, Mano a Mano and The Bronx Documentary Center present: Migration Stories - Immigrants Share their Journeys

Sat, Nov 21, 2015  6-8PM Bronx Documentary Center 614 Courtland Ave, Bronx, NY 10451

Today I read an article posted to the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies titled, ‘The Gay Second Generation: Sexual Identity and Family Relations of Filipino and Latino Gay Men’ by Anthony C. Ocampo.

Apparently Prof. Stephanie Farmer from RU assigned this last week and it came to me by one of my ALAS peers. I fell in love with it. It 100% portrays how our community views LGBT issues and why it’s problematic for us, second generation immigrants in terms of identity and acceptance.

If you ever want to understand Intersectionality and issues between Latino families and their LGBT sons/daughters this article is important.

It will always be harder than you think to understand unless you live but you can sure as hell educate yourself on it. Next time someone of Latino descent comes to you seeking help or advice don’t turn them down. We’re more likely to commit suicide because of an identity-less emotion. Don’t ever force a Latino to come out.