Journal of Intercultural Studies Pub Date : 2021-06-24 , DOI: 10.1080/07256868.2021.1939280 Maria Marchetti-Mercer 1 , Leslie Swartz 2 , Loretta Baldassar 3
ABSTRACT
Migration is an increasingly common feature of life globally. This article discusses visits in South African transnational families of diverse origins, exploring the importance and meaning of physical co-presence by examining the role of visits in delivering mutual ‘visibility’ – the ability to see and be seen – when family members meet in person. The data come from a qualitative project exploring South African transnational family relationships, and particularly, differences between the experiences of those who migrate and of those left behind. ‘Outward’, ‘return’ and ‘reunion’ visits are considered. One element visits had in common was excitement linked to the planning of the visit and actual visit, but there was also some ambivalence and underlying sadness, because visits provide only a temporary experience of physical co-presence. The multiple meanings attached to visits have implications for how family and care relationships are understood in the contemporary globalised world. Future research should consider the complexities of relationships and care through the transnational family lifecycle.
中文翻译:
“奶奶会回到电脑里吗?”:南非跨国家庭中的访问和看到和被看到的家庭政治
摘要
移民是全球生活中越来越普遍的特征。本文讨论了对不同血统的南非跨国家庭的访问,通过检查访问在提供相互“可见性”——看到和被看到的能力中的作用,探索了身体共存的重要性和意义– 当家庭成员亲自见面时。这些数据来自一个定性项目,该项目探索了南非跨国家庭关系,特别是移民和留守者之间的经历差异。考虑“外出”、“返回”和“团聚”访问。访问的一个共同点是与访问计划和实际访问相关的兴奋,但也存在一些矛盾和潜在的悲伤,因为访问仅提供身体共同存在的临时体验。与探访相关的多重含义对于在当代全球化世界中如何理解家庭和照料关系具有重要意义。未来的研究应该考虑跨国家庭生命周期中关系和关怀的复杂性。