Family behaviours among first generation migrants.

Over the last decade the number of families in Italy with foreign members has increased considerably transforming immigrants from ‘labour force’ to ‘population’. However, the family settlement in the host country has taken place differently among migrants depending on their countries of origin. Focusing on gender and origin, we identified different family migration patterns. The analysis is based on a pooled dataset obtained from 12 repeated cross-sectional surveys (Osservatorio Regionale per l’integrazione e la Multietnicità, ORIM 2001-2012) on migrants living in Lombardy. In profiling the differences in family behaviours of migrants of different origin, the results highlight the clear role of gender. The behaviours of women and men with the same origin match revealing a specific profile