Examining transnational care circulation trajectories within immobilizing regimes of migration: Implications for proximate care

Abstract

In this paper we argue that the current political context of restrictionist migration policies is dramatically affecting people’s capacity to cross borders to engage in proximate care with their relatives, which is a central, yet often overlooked, feature of transnational care practices. We examine how the wider context of temporality, restrictive mobility, and heightened uncertainty about the future affect people’s ability to be mobile and to move back and forth for caregiving. In examining the wellbeing effects of such restrictions, we highlight their variable impact depending on factors such as socio-economic positioning, life-course stage and health. The first sections of the paper present the care circulation framework and the particular meaning and function of proximate forms of care, as well as the main categories of care-related mobility that support this. We illustrate the dynamics and challenges faced by transnational family members, who engage in these care-related mobilities, through three vignettes involving care circulation between India and the UK, China and Australia, and Morocco and Belgium. In the final section, we discuss our vignettes in relation to the political, physical, social and time dimensions of current regimes of mobility that impact on care-related mobilities. We argue that the regimes of mobility that currently govern care-related mobilities are best understood as ‘immobilizing regimes’ with important and undervalued implications for ontological security and wellbeing.

Digital Anticipation: Facilitating the Pre-Emptive Futures of Chinese Grandparent Migrants in Australia

“…Over just 4 years she visited Perth eight times, changing shift with her son-in-law’s parents every 3 months. Such care-sharing arrangements are common among Chinese grandparents as they balance the constraints of temporary visitor visas, working children’s need for continuous childcare, and, for many, a personal preference for the relaxed life of a retiree in China over the exhausting days of a grandparent carer (Chiu & Ho 2020; Merla et al, 2020). Regular practices of digital kinning performed through WeChat and her smartphone are essential to support Mrs. Ma’s friendships and valued relationships as she moves between countries as a peripatetic grandparent.…”

Migrant visits over time: Ethnographic returning and the technological turn

“…(2007) discuss ritual, routine, crisis, and tourist visits. Kilkey and Merla (2014, p. 212) contrast reappearers, returners, relocaters and flying kin (see also Merla et al., 2020); Marchetti et al. (2021) compare ‘outward’, ‘return’ and ‘reunion’ visits.…”

“…Baldassar et al (2007) discuss ritual, routine, crisis, and tourist visits. Kilkey and Merla (2014, p. 212) contrast reappearers, returners, relocaters and flying kin (see also Merla et al, 2020); Marchetti et al (2021) compare 'outward' , 'return' and 'reunion' visits. Arguably, the newest types of migrant visits are those made by grandparents. In the pre-and post-war periods, very few nonmigrants undertook visits due to the time and cost involved.…”

Mobility Restrictions and Transnational Families: How COVID-19 Pandemic May Affect Families and Caring for Children?

“…Nevaržomas fizinis šeimos narių judėjimas tarp valstybių yra esminis transnacionalinio šeiminio gyvenimo dėmuo, leidžiantis užtikrinti "globos cirkuliaciją" (Baldassar, Merla 2014), vykdyti šeimos nariams priskiriamus įsipareigojimus. Griežtėjant migracijos politikai migrantai paprastai yra linkę riboti judumą (Massey et al 2016) ir ieškoti būdų prisitaikyti prie judėjimą ribojančių tvarkų -"antijudumo režimų" (Merla et al 2020). Naujas COVID-19 "antijudumo režimas" dar neturi aiškių apmatų, į kuriuos galėtų orientuotis transnacionalinės šeimos, tačiau iki šiol negausūs tyrimai (Brandhorst et al 2020; Merla et al 2020) parodo, kad jau susimąstoma apie įprastų transnacionalinių šeiminių praktikų ir globos strategijų koregavimą, svarstomos galimybės sugrįžti į kilmės šalį arba susijungti su šeima užsienyje.…”