Abstract
This paper explores motivations of Indian partner in mixed Indian-Danish couples living in Denmark. One of the characteristics of modernity is increased movements across borders, leading to increased intimate relationships across national/ethnic borders. The main research question here deals with the reasons for couple ‘getting together’. How do motives interplay with the gender- and the family generational, socio -economical categories?
The paper draws from an explorative study conducted in Denmark among intermarried couples, consisting of in-depth interviews with ten ‘ordinary’ intermarried couples combined with two clinical cases (Singla, 2015). Illustrative narratives of two Indian women married to Danish men and an Indian man married to a Danish woman are focus of this paper.
The theoretical framework combines intersectionality approach with cultural psychological trajectory equifinality model (TEM), transnationalism and a phenomenological approach to sexual desire and love.
We find that there are three different pathways, highlighting commonality of work identity, a cosmopolitan identity and academic interests, where differential changing patterns of privileges and power are also evoked. However, “falling in love” is pointed as the dominant reason for the intimate relation formation. Furthermore, results indicate differential generational, gender acceptance of the mixed marriage implying complex patterns of modernity within the extended family and ‘community’ involving religion, caste, region and socio-economic aspects.
These findings challenge the simplistic economic dichotomy about exogamy between the global North and global South, are discussed with other studies, among others a study about foreign-born spouses living in Japan, revealing two dominant motivations behind their migration to Japan: social and economic necessity and social and economic opportunity (Morgan et al, 2016).
Finally these narratives are analysed focussing both on the potentials and risks of mixed marriages, for enhancing couples through mental health promotion and psychosocial counselling.
The paper draws from an explorative study conducted in Denmark among intermarried couples, consisting of in-depth interviews with ten ‘ordinary’ intermarried couples combined with two clinical cases (Singla, 2015). Illustrative narratives of two Indian women married to Danish men and an Indian man married to a Danish woman are focus of this paper.
The theoretical framework combines intersectionality approach with cultural psychological trajectory equifinality model (TEM), transnationalism and a phenomenological approach to sexual desire and love.
We find that there are three different pathways, highlighting commonality of work identity, a cosmopolitan identity and academic interests, where differential changing patterns of privileges and power are also evoked. However, “falling in love” is pointed as the dominant reason for the intimate relation formation. Furthermore, results indicate differential generational, gender acceptance of the mixed marriage implying complex patterns of modernity within the extended family and ‘community’ involving religion, caste, region and socio-economic aspects.
These findings challenge the simplistic economic dichotomy about exogamy between the global North and global South, are discussed with other studies, among others a study about foreign-born spouses living in Japan, revealing two dominant motivations behind their migration to Japan: social and economic necessity and social and economic opportunity (Morgan et al, 2016).
Finally these narratives are analysed focussing both on the potentials and risks of mixed marriages, for enhancing couples through mental health promotion and psychosocial counselling.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 1 Sept 2016 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2016 |
| Event | Conference on Modernity (2016): Modern Matters: Negotiating the Future of Everyday Life in South Asia - Lund Universitet, Lund, Sweden Duration: 20 Sept 2016 → 22 Sept 2016 http://www.sasnet.lu.se/conferences/sasnet-conferences/modern-matters-negotiating-the-future-of-everyday-life-in-south-asia-2016 |
Conference
| Conference | Conference on Modernity (2016) |
|---|---|
| Location | Lund Universitet |
| Country/Territory | Sweden |
| City | Lund |
| Period | 20/09/2016 → 22/09/2016 |
| Internet address |
Bibliographical note
Panel No. 4: ‘Staging Marriage and Modernity among the Middle classes in South Asia’Keywords
- Incresing modernity
- Increased movements across borders
- Mixed couples getting together
- Three different pathways
- Differential generational
- Religion
- Gender acceptan ce
- Caste
- Regional and socio-economic aspects