Everyday (in)security and transnational family relationships in the lives of young forced migrants
Keywords:
Everyday security, unaccompanied minors, family reunification, transnational family, Seguridad cotidiana, menores no acompañados, reunificación familiar, familia transnacionalAbstract
This article examines how the (in)security of transnational family members influence the sense of security of young migrants who have initially moved to Finland as unaccompanied minors. The concept of everyday security sheds light on the everyday lives of people who are often presented as a threat in mainstream media and discourses. The data consists of interviews with sixteen young forced migrants who are attempting to bring family members to the country via family reunification. The results show that securities and insecurities narrated by the interviewees in relation to transnational family are material, interpersonal and existential. Material securities include the embodied symptoms of stress and relief and different economic circumstances. Interpersonal securities manifest through comparing one’s situation to others. Existential (in)securities are related to a sense of continuity and predictability. The results show that supporting family life through policy and welfare practices is important for young migrants’ well-being.
Este artículo examina la influencia de la (in)seguridad de familiares transnacionales en el sentido de seguridad de jóvenes migrantes que se habían mudado a Finlandia como menores no acompañados. El concepto de seguridad cotidiana arroja luz sobre las vidas diarias de personas que, en medios y discursos mayoritarios, son presentadas como una amenaza. Los datos consisten en entrevistas con dieciséis migrantes jóvenes forzosos que están intentando traer a miembros de su familia al país por la vía de la reunificación familiar. Los resultados muestran que las seguridades e inseguridades narradas por los entrevistados en relación con la familia transnacional son materiales, interpersonales y existenciales. Las seguridades materiales incluyen los síntomas somatizados de estrés y alivio y diversas circunstancias económicas. Las seguridades interpersonales se manifiestan a través de la comparación de la situación propia con las de otros. Las (in)seguridades existenciales están relacionadas con un sentido de continuidad y predecibilidad. Los resultados muestran que es importante para el bienestar de los jóvenes migrantes apoyar la vida familiar con prácticas políticas y de bienestar.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1202
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Copyright (c) 2021 Johanna Hiitola

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