Qualitative research of marriage migrant women’s occupational experience as Barista in South Korea

The aim of this study is to explore what the worth of migrant women’s occupational experience. For this study, we conducted in-depth interviews with 8 of marriage migrant women who have been working as a barista were participated. Research method is a qualitative study based on the Ground Theory which developed by Strauss and Corbin. Particularly, we analyzed marriage migrant women’s participation of occupational experience as well as job responsibility process focusing on the characteristics and their occupational experience and also finding out difficulties of their job implementation and their traits.

The result of this study is that found 3 main Themes and 7 substitute themes from them. Firstly, as the main themes, they felt like ‘little flashlight in the dark night’, ‘blooming the flower in the drought’, ’finding myself back from the lost’. The participants were very not familiar with not only new culture in South Korea but also working as a barista at first, however they have been able to make career as a barista by means of Korean manager, volunteers and colleagues.

From this study, the occupational experience was verified as very important factors for the marriage migrant women’s adjustment in South Korea. In addition, we proposed not only political but also practical support for marriage migrant women’s occupational participation.

Key words: marriage migrant women, barista, occupational experience, ground-theory