Reinforcing, negotiating and resisting gender norms among reunited couples in Mexico: An intersectional critical ethnography
AbstractThis article examines the reunification experiences and gender dynamics of reunited Mexican couples post-migration, and the intersections that shape those experiences. In 2021, we conducted a critical ethnographic study guided by intersectionality theory in Veracruz, Mexico. We interviewed w...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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Series: | Cogent Social Sciences |
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Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2276139 |
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author | Higinio Fernández-Sánchez Jordana Salma Sara Dorow Bukola Salami |
author_facet | Higinio Fernández-Sánchez Jordana Salma Sara Dorow Bukola Salami |
author_sort | Higinio Fernández-Sánchez |
collection | DOAJ |
description | AbstractThis article examines the reunification experiences and gender dynamics of reunited Mexican couples post-migration, and the intersections that shape those experiences. In 2021, we conducted a critical ethnographic study guided by intersectionality theory in Veracruz, Mexico. We interviewed women who stayed behind (n = 20), return migrants (n = 12), health care providers (n = 6), and community leaders (n = 12). Data was analyzed using thematic analysis using NVivo software as aid. We found that the intersection of age, gender, and employment status influenced gender relations among reunited couples postmigration. Couples reinforced, negotiated, and resisted pre-established gender norms in Agua Dulce. The findings suggest that women have the capacity to act on the relationship pathway upon the return of their migrant partners at the dynamic intersection of age, gender, and employment status. These must be understood against the backdrop of gender norms in the study context. This article provides an important theoretical contribution to research and policy. The contribution lies in the rich intersectional understanding of how and why relationships are affected in different ways depending on intersecting factors across the pre-, during, and post- migration experience. Policymakers and stakeholders can use it to identify ways to enhance women’s agency. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:08:32Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-c9832dd03c5d4b9fae0b6c259b3847cf |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2331-1886 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:08:32Z |
publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
record_format | Article |
series | Cogent Social Sciences |
spelling | doaj.art-c9832dd03c5d4b9fae0b6c259b3847cf2023-12-12T12:45:37ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862023-12-019210.1080/23311886.2023.2276139Reinforcing, negotiating and resisting gender norms among reunited couples in Mexico: An intersectional critical ethnographyHiginio Fernández-Sánchez0Jordana Salma1Sara Dorow2Bukola Salami3Cizik School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, Houston, USAFaculty of Nursing, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, CanadaFaculty of Arts, Department of Sociology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, CanadaAbstractThis article examines the reunification experiences and gender dynamics of reunited Mexican couples post-migration, and the intersections that shape those experiences. In 2021, we conducted a critical ethnographic study guided by intersectionality theory in Veracruz, Mexico. We interviewed women who stayed behind (n = 20), return migrants (n = 12), health care providers (n = 6), and community leaders (n = 12). Data was analyzed using thematic analysis using NVivo software as aid. We found that the intersection of age, gender, and employment status influenced gender relations among reunited couples postmigration. Couples reinforced, negotiated, and resisted pre-established gender norms in Agua Dulce. The findings suggest that women have the capacity to act on the relationship pathway upon the return of their migrant partners at the dynamic intersection of age, gender, and employment status. These must be understood against the backdrop of gender norms in the study context. This article provides an important theoretical contribution to research and policy. The contribution lies in the rich intersectional understanding of how and why relationships are affected in different ways depending on intersecting factors across the pre-, during, and post- migration experience. Policymakers and stakeholders can use it to identify ways to enhance women’s agency.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2276139critical ethnographygenderintersectionalityMexicoreturn migration |
spellingShingle | Higinio Fernández-Sánchez Jordana Salma Sara Dorow Bukola Salami Reinforcing, negotiating and resisting gender norms among reunited couples in Mexico: An intersectional critical ethnography Cogent Social Sciences critical ethnography gender intersectionality Mexico return migration |
title | Reinforcing, negotiating and resisting gender norms among reunited couples in Mexico: An intersectional critical ethnography |
title_full | Reinforcing, negotiating and resisting gender norms among reunited couples in Mexico: An intersectional critical ethnography |
title_fullStr | Reinforcing, negotiating and resisting gender norms among reunited couples in Mexico: An intersectional critical ethnography |
title_full_unstemmed | Reinforcing, negotiating and resisting gender norms among reunited couples in Mexico: An intersectional critical ethnography |
title_short | Reinforcing, negotiating and resisting gender norms among reunited couples in Mexico: An intersectional critical ethnography |
title_sort | reinforcing negotiating and resisting gender norms among reunited couples in mexico an intersectional critical ethnography |
topic | critical ethnography gender intersectionality Mexico return migration |
url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2276139 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT higiniofernandezsanchez reinforcingnegotiatingandresistinggendernormsamongreunitedcouplesinmexicoanintersectionalcriticalethnography AT jordanasalma reinforcingnegotiatingandresistinggendernormsamongreunitedcouplesinmexicoanintersectionalcriticalethnography AT saradorow reinforcingnegotiatingandresistinggendernormsamongreunitedcouplesinmexicoanintersectionalcriticalethnography AT bukolasalami reinforcingnegotiatingandresistinggendernormsamongreunitedcouplesinmexicoanintersectionalcriticalethnography |