Practices of intimacy in transnational families: care circulation and the re-appropriation of the tension between geographical distance and emotional proximity

Merla, Laura
(2017) Internationa conference Transnational Families: Generations, differences, solidarity — Location: Centre for Population Studies, Cluj, Romania (7.July.2017)

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In this paper I consider practices of care circulation (Baldassar & Merla, 2014) as “practices of intimacy” (Jamieson 2011) that can be understood, in a transnational context, as mediums for the (re)appropriation of the tension between geographical distance and emotional closeness. This hypothesis is further explored through the mobilisation of a conceptual framework located at the intersection between social sciences and psychology, developed in collaboration with François & Janssen (Merla et al. 2014), which interrogates the dialectical relations between geographical distance and social ties.  I will discuss in particular how technological, cultural-normative, institutional and relational contexts contribute to influence people’s perception of geographical distance as an obstacle – or as a facilitator – for the maintenance of intimate relations. 
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Merla, L. (2017). Practices of intimacy in transnational families: care circulation and the re-appropriation of the tension between geographical distance and emotional proximity. Internationa conference Transnational Families: Generations, differences, solidarity, Centre for Population Studies, Cluj, Romania. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/178746