Migrant Motherhood and Child Protection: The Ecuador–Genoa Case

ABSTRACT Migrant motherhood is often accompanied by a dual stigma, both in the country of origin and that of migration, where migrant mothers are frequently associated with a failure to parent adequately. Drawing on a case study of Latin migration in Genoa (Italy), this article examines the phenomenon in relation to the dynamics of the globalised labour market and socio‐demographic factors. Within child protection services, perceived parental inadequacy is commonly attributed to cultural factors, while prevailing models of good parenting are grounded in the living standards of the local middle classes, endowed with substantial social and economic capital that remains largely unattainable for parents positioned within subordinate social classes.