‘It hurts my heart’: Afghan women in London negotiating family relationships and (im)mobility regimes across borders

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute new insights into transnational care relationships by drawing on qualitative longitudinal data, to explore the complexities and nuances of Afghan women's dynamic family relations across multiple countries and continents. Rather than treating transnational families as a homogeneous unit, we present rich case studies to explore relationships with particular relatives, such as mothers, sisters and in-laws, to understand the different dynamics within specific familial ties. Paying attention to the specificities of spatial contexts and infrastructures in framing opportunities and obstacles to transnational care, we apply the concept of immobility regimes. Beyond a simple bi-national focus on countries of origin and residence, we explore how the women navigate these regimes, across multiple countries and different visa regimes to arrange in-person visits with geographically dispersed kin. We consider the role of ICTs and the limitations of poor connectivity, especially in countries like Afghanistan, and the gender power dynamics that may limit women's access to technologies.