Faculty Publications

Unofficial Sister Cities: Meatpacking Labor Migration Between Villachuato, Mexico, And Marshalltown, Iowa

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Immigration, Iowa, Labor migration, Mexico, Transnational communities

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Human Organization

Volume

61

Issue

4

First Page

364

Last Page

376

Abstract

The meatpacking plant in Marshalltown, Iowa, is heavily dependent on production workers from one Mexican community. Not only has this plant developed a dependence on these immigrants, but the migrants, their families, and their home town have become economically and socially dependent on the plant. The result of this symbiotic relationship is the establishment of an unofficial "sister city" relationship between Marshalltown and Villachuato, Mexico. This article explores the emergence of this relationship and its consequences for both communities. It also explores some of the implications for the future of rural midwestern communities that depend on transnational migrant labor.

Department

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

Original Publication Date

1-1-2002

DOI of published version

10.17730/humo.61.4.8xhdfg6jggqccb2c

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