Support for Foreign Resident Mothers During the Pandemic: Considerations from the Perspective of On-the-Ground Support

Abstract

With the spread of COVID-19, support for foreign residents, for whom information in Japanese might be hard to understand, has become a pressing issue. However, there are still few studies on foreign resident mothers, a marginalized subgroup among foreign residents. To investigate their present situation and the issues relating to their support during the COVID-19 pandemic, I analyzed the reports of the Association for Toyonaka Multicultural Symbiosis, an association which offers wide support to foreign residents in Toyonaka City, Osaka, and conducted an interview survey with the staff in charge. The results of my study showed that the association provides information and support based on the needs of foreign residents, both in outdoor settings and online through various tools like video conference systems. It also expanded support though the employment of members from multiple linguistic and cultural backgrounds, under the COVID-19 state of emergency. It has also become clear that changes in methods of communication through the use of online tools makes it more difficult to detect the concerns and insecurities of foreign residents.