Divorce in transnational families: Norms, networks, and intersecting categories

Abstract

This paper highlights the originality and scholarly contributions of the present Special Issue on transnational divorces in three ways. First, it examines two sets of related literature and situates the Special Issue within them: one on divorces, in general, and the other on divorces in transnational families (also called here "transnational divorce"). This exercise identifies the scholarly tendencies and gaps needing immediate attention in the study of divorce at the present age of family (re) composition. Second, the paper discusses how the special issue addresses the lacunas in the literature through "transborder intersectionality," that is, a combination of transnational and intersectional perspectives. And third, based on its five empirically grounded case studies, it unveils the main structuring forces in transnational divorces: norms (social and legal), networks (transnational family support, local social ties…), and intersecting categories (gender, social class, legal status…). The paper ends with research directions for the future study of divorces traversing nation-states' borders.

Pursuing social justice in gender and migration research

“…On the one hand, there has been a call to return to intersectionality's original vision, for instance, by being conscious of its origins (Rice et al., 2019) or by showing ‘more sensitivity’ to its origin ‘within black feminism’ (Hopkins, 2019, p. 940). On the other hand, several feminist scholars welcome an open intersectionality allowing its continued evolution from being ‘domestic’ (Mahler et al., 2015) to ‘transborder’ (Fresnoza‐Flot & De Hart, 2022). As Davis (2020) argues, intersectionality, as a ‘travelling theory’ and as a ‘critical enquiry’, ‘demands an openness to a wide range of voices and perspectives’ (p. 124).…”