This article aims to examine how changes in mothering induced by international migration become transformed into ‘troubles’. Based on the analysis of 79 selected articles on transnational families published between 2004 and 2013 in national press and Internet media portals in Lithuania, along with interviews with transnational mothers conducted between 2008 and 2014, the authors raise questions about how changes in mothering due to migration come to be constructed as troubles and how mothers who emigrate to work abroad while their children remain living in the country of origin engage in mothering display. The authors bridge Goffman’s theoretical ideas with the current frame of family display suggested by Finch to extend the understanding about the ways the scripts of ‘good mothering’ are both referenced and transformed through multi-local interactions. The analysis of the portrayal of transnational mothers in mass media demonstrates how mothering across borders is scripted. The cases discussed by the authors show the way transnational mothers respond to the discrediting scripts and normalize troubles, investing in bringing new meanings to mothering. The analysis of newly emerging transnational practices gives empirical evidence to the assumption that transnational mothers do not simply ‘follow’ scripts but also shift them and create new stories of mothering.

Šeimos narių laikina emigracija iš Lietuvos nėra naujas reiškinys, tačiau jo mastai tampa iššūkiu šeimos institutui. Susiduriama su naujais reiškiniais: vienas arba abu tėvai išvyksta į užsienį, o vaikai gyvena Lietuvoje vieni, globojami giminių, valstybės. Kaip vertinti šiuos šeiminio gyvenimo pokyčius? Ar šie transnacionaliniai šeiminiai dariniai taps alternatyva branduolinei šeimai, kaip kadaise ja tapo sugyvenimas, švytuoklinės šeimos, sambūvis pavieniui? Akistata su nauju šeiminiu dariniu skatina klausti: kas yra atotolio šeima, atotolio vaikai? Koks kognityvinis ir emocinis krūvis slypi atotolio šeimų viešame diskurse ir kaip šis naujas šeiminis darinys gali būti konceptualizuojamas akademiniame lygmenyje? Straipsnyje aptariami trijų sociologinių tyrimų, atliktų 2004-2006 metais rezultatai. Dviejuose tyrimuose analizuojamas atotolio šeimų problematikos pateikimas Lietuvos spaudoje ir internetiniame portale DELFI, trečiame – aptariami I. Levin metodu nustatyti atotolio vaikų stigmatizavimo būdai ir stigmos valdymo strategijos. Remiantis tyrimo metu atskleistais atotolio šeimų ypatumais siūloma naujo šeiminio darinio teorinė refleksija „šeiminio streso“, „socialinių mainų“ teorijų požiūriu. Svarstomos socialinių tinklų, šeiminių problemų prieigų taikymo bei rizikos tezės eksplikacijos galimybės. Apibendrinimai pateikiami tyrimo gairių pavidalu.

No abstract

The de-bordering of Europe and the development of intra-European mobility is seen as one of the main factors of recent wave of the mass emigration from Lithuania giving rise of the family changes. The article aims to trace the development of the outline for migrant family research by discussing the social, empirical and theoretical premises that has lead the author for further research of families touched by migration through the lens of changes, resources, definitions of the situations and impact management practices. An innovative methodological and theoretical approach to study migrant families is introduced with the focus on pragmatic approach and integrative methodology, combination of theories, methods, and data for the purpose of analytic density. The author theorizes family change and coping with hardships by means of ideas of symbolic interactionism, theoretical constructs of intergenerational solidarity, kin networks, personal networks and conceptions of family practices: doing and displaying family.

This edited collection opens the door to understanding the representations and experiences of Lithuanian migrant families. The authors aim to highlight the most recent theoretical frames through which to understand the personal lives, family practices of migrants, and the ways family relationships could be perceived as ‘troubled’. The authors test and extend these ideas about family life with a focus on gender and intergenerational issues in the context of Lithuanian families across borders.