South Asian Families in Diaspora: retreat from Marriage, myth or reality?

 

South Asian Family in Diaspora: Retreat from marriage, myth or reality?

 

This paper proposes to explore the dynamics of close ties in the South Asian families in the Nordic countries, especially Denmark through intimate partnership formation in the context of late modern societal discourse of detraditionalisation.

The basis for exploration is primarily a empirical follow up study about young adults´ life trajectories combined with some statistical data about the intimate partnership formation patterns. The study includes ethnic minority and ethnic majority young adults (n= 9) and addresses the dominant discourse. The interplay between institutionalised individualism and interconnectedness is studied through vertical and horizontal relationships within the socio-cultural psychological framework combining intersectionality conceptualisation with life course perspectives.

The findings point to a complex picture which challenges the simplified understanding of institutionalised individualism for these young adults and directs attention towards multiple modes of forming intimate relationships in a diaspora context, indicating continuity with as well as changes from the parental modes.