Materialities of Home in Migration

Abstract

This chapter focuses on materiality of migrant homes and the relationships between objects in migration and social processes that make certain material components of a home more meaningful and useful than others. The chapter acknowledges that the space of home is not separate from the larger socio-political structures that make it possible or impossible. However, it turns the lens of analysis towards a more mundane and everyday aspect of home making practices, that is, material composition of a home. This chapter highlights three important areas in studies of objects in home and migration processes: the first are objects of memory, that capture symbolic meanings in relation to past lives, homes and contexts. The second is about objects of everyday use, that refers to instrumentality of objects and their usefulness as tools in present times. The third one is about objects that convey a form of identity (such as in relation to class, gender, nation) that is useful for one in relation to their desired homes or even homes for future.