Travelling towards Home: Mobilities and Homemaking

The nature of home and homemaking is becoming increasingly critical as we grapple with a growing refugee crisis, anti-immigration sentiment, and deepening communal segregation. This collection provides ethnographic insight into diverse contexts, suggesting a multiple understanding of home and provoking new understandings of the material and symbolic process of making oneself "at home."

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2023
Publisher: Berghahn Books

As we face the escalating challenges of a growing refugee crisis, a growing sense of anti-immigration sentiment, and the deepening divide between communities in many developed parts of the world, the questions of what constitutes a home and the practices associated with homemaking become increasingly crucial. This collection offers ethnographic insights into various aspects of homemaking, encompassing a diverse range of contexts, from economic migrants to new Chinese industrial cities, Jewish returnees from Israel to Ukraine, and young gay South Asians in London. Despite the diverse social-political landscapes these studies explore, they all point to a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of home, challenging traditional notions and prompting us to reexamine the material and symbolic processes involved in creating a sense of belonging.

The first study in the collection explores the experiences of economic migrants in a Chinese industrial city. The authors examine how these migrants navigate the complexities of urban life, often facing discrimination, language barriers, and limited access to resources. Through their interviews and observations, they highlight the importance of community and social networks in providing support and a sense of belonging. The study also explores the ways in which these migrants adapt their traditional homemaking practices to fit into the urban context, such as cooking and cleaning in shared spaces and relying on online platforms for information and communication.

The second study focuses on Jewish returnees from Israel to Ukraine. The authors examine the challenges these returnees face in reestablishing their lives in a new country, including cultural assimilation, economic instability, and social isolation. Through their interviews and observations, they explore the ways in which these returnees redefine their sense of home and create new connections with their community. The study also highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage and traditions in the process of rebuilding and creating a new home.

The third study explores the experiences of young gay South Asians in London. The authors examine the challenges these individuals face in negotiating their identities and relationships in a diverse and often hostile social environment. Through their interviews and observations, they highlight the importance of community and support networks in providing a sense of belonging and resilience. The study also explores the ways in which these individuals create their own homes and spaces, often through shared living arrangements and online communities.

Overall, this collection provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the practices and meanings of homemaking in a range of contexts. It challenges us to think beyond traditional notions of home and belonging and encourages us to explore the complex and multifaceted processes involved in creating a sense of home in the modern world.

ISBN-13: 9781800739499