Marriage and Migration through the Life Course

Abstract

In this article I approach the relationship between marriage and migration from the perspective of transnational Sikh women who are, or seek to, separate from their husbands, or who have been widowed. Given the dominant ideals surrounding Sikh marriage, how do migrant women negotiate their non-married status, and how does this relate to their stage in the life course, their geographic location and their kin networks? The article draws attention to the significance of location as mediating women's experiences in terms of social norms, policies and networks. Although marriage remains central in the lives of South Asian women, I seek to show that expectations and experiences are not immutable, but are influenced by the women's stage in the life course, their access to material resources, and their kin networks within and between places.