Reversal of the Gender Order? Male Marriage Migration to Germany by Turkish Men: New Forms of Gendered Transnationalization of Migrant Offsprings in Germany

Abstract

This chapter shows that by a growing number of young Muslim women with a migration background in Germany the 'imported husband' from the country of origin of their grandparents is seen as a gateway to emancipation. By means of the analysis of biographical narrative interviews with male migrants from Turkey and their spouses, this chapter shows that there is a shift of power balance in gender relations that does not have the same negative or positive outcomes for both spouses. The imported husbands might encounter problems and difficulties because of being exposed to drastic challenges regarding their perception of manhood in the host country. Conflicts also for the children are emerging from different biographical experiences in these transnational families.