Anthropologist Ann Miles Summary

In her book, anthropologist Ann Miles discusses transnational migration. Over the course of a decade, she met and developed a relationship with the Quitasacas, a poor Ecuadorian family struggling to survive. The ethnography explores Vicente Quitasaca’s, one of the Quitasaca children, migration from Cuenca, Ecuador to New York City and the effect his journey had on his family. Because it focuses on the family, the book provides a micro level view of the macro phenomenon of migration. While the overall book is about transnational migration, Miles also illustrates common Ecuadorian family values and practices. These practices include religious participation. With examples from the text, it is clear that religion has a positive effect on family life, demonstrated through the effects of an old religious story and baptism. In From Cuenca to Queens, Miles

It can be assumed that they have some sort of faith since the tale involves the devil. This religious story can be seen as a positive influence on family life because it used to teach children a valuable lesson. Miles states that Rosa uses the story to impart moral ideas on her kids (37). Specifically, the story reinforced “the values of hard work and family responsibility”, emphasizing the importance of family over self-achievement (38, 51). Although he effects of the lesson are barely discussed within the first few chapters of the ethnography, they are especially demonstrated through Vicente. The importance of diligence and family is confirmed by Vicente’s decision to go to America. He went not only to improve his life but also to potentially improve his family’s lives (3). The story about the devil validates the fact that religion has a positive influence on the Quitasaca’s family life because it shows that their beliefs can teach valuable life lessons, which are particularly shown through Vicente’s decision to go to