Transnational families and the circulation of care: a framework for the analysis of transnational care practices
(2013) Globalisation, Transnationalism & Development Colloquium — Location: Maastricht University, NL (11.September.2013)
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- Abstract
- Transnational families have been de2ined as “families that live some or most of the time separated from each other, yet hold together and create something that can be seen as a feeling of collective welfare and unity, namely ‘familyhood’, even across national borders” (Bryceson & Vuorela, 2002, p. 18). Care practices in particular have been recognized as one of the main ways in which transnational kin ‘do’ family (see for instance Goulbourne et al, 2009). In this presentation I will introduce the ‘care circulation’ framework (Baldassar and Merla 2013), which offers a new perspective on the analysis of the mobilities of care within transnational family networks. The circulation of care is de2ined as ‘the reciprocal, multidirectional and asymmetrical exchange of care that 2luctuates over the life course within transnational family networks subject to the political, economic, cultural and social contexts of both sending and receiving societies’ (Baldassar and Merla, 2013: 22). ‘Care’ is understood as multidimensional, including practical, emotional, personal, 2inancial support as well as accommodation. Based on ethnographic case studies, I will show how care circulates within transnational family networks, highlighting the role played by the usually invisible actors of care exchanges, such as men, children and the elderly. I will also higlight the importance of ‘situating’ transnational care practices within the institutional contexts of both receiving and sending countries, using Kilkey and Merla (2013)’s situated caregiving capabilities framework.
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Merla, L. (2013). Transnational families and the circulation of care: a framework for the analysis of transnational care practices. Globalisation, Transnationalism & Development Colloquium, Maastricht University, NL. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/202239