Looking beyond margins and marginality: observations on chinese mobility to Palermo, Italy

The paper examines the concept of marginalization through a case study of Chinese migration to Palermo, Italy. Through ethnographic fieldwork based on semi-structured interviews, informal exchanges, and other experiences of “ethnographic significance,” it introduces the critical points of margins, marginality, and marginalization and outlines the trajectory of Chinese mobility in the city center. In contrast to stereotyped visions of marginality and monolithic representations of Chinese mobility, a complex and multifaceted landscape emerges from the fieldwork. The interlocutors who participated in the research reveal various aspects of the topic, including economic and social marginalization, ethnic and cultural issues, and family and generational gaps. Some aspects appear contradictory, such as the connection between the economic stability of their businesses and social isolation. Despite differing perspectives, all share a similar view of Palermo as a small, boring city with limited activities for Chinese people. Because Palermo is a marginal place from the perspective of Chinese immigrants, they are marginalized too. Marginality as deprivation or displacement from the point of view of the mainstream host society therefore oversimplifies Chinese mobility, which involves economic, social, and cultural dimensions. Marginalization as a result of the subjects’ positionality overcomes ethnic boundaries; it is a multi-layered concept that could help address both local and global aspects of Chinese mobility.