Intermarried Couples, gender positions and mental well being: Danish context of homogeneity

The paper addresses gap in the psychosocial knowledge about intermarried couples in Denmark, based on a research project constituting “visibly ethnically different households“ (Phoenix, 2011), where one partner originates from the global ’South’ (India/ Pakistan) and the other from the global ‘North’ (Denmark). Despite increase in numbers, intermarried couples are still almost invisible as a statistical category and in psychosocial services in the Danish context.
The theoretical framework combines intersectionality approach, with life course perspective and the everyday life practices. The diasporic identity and transnational relations are also included. The explorative study is based on depth interviews with ‘ordinary’ persons in mixed marriage (n = 10). The contextual tension between the concepts of ethnicity and ‘race’ related to the ‘visible differences’ is also a part of the framework.
The results indicate both the successes and the struggles involved, highlighting both the internal aspects- subjective feelings in life fases, transforming gender, power positions, family relationships and the external aspects , such as the structural, policy barriers, interpersonal ‘gaze’, stereotypes. Implications for relevant mental health promotion and counselling for distressed couples are also included.

Keywords: intermarried couples, visible ethnically different couples. intersectionality approach, gender positions, structural barriers, health promotion