Paper short abstract:

Discourses of emotion surrounding transnational marriages among British Pakistanis can augment our understanding of the popularity of the practice. Such discourses are explored both through Urdu/Punjabi notions of a good ‘rishta’ (match or connection), and a multi-generational perspective.

Paper long abstract:

The popularity of transnational marriages, which in most cases involve first cousins or other kin, distinguishes Pakistanis from other British South Asian groups. This paper aims to explain the popularity of such marriages which normally involve the migration of the Pakistani spouse to Britain, and intends to explore the notion of 'emotional attachment' as a possible tool of analysis. Apart from stressing the importance of kinship obligations and socio-economic strategies, the paper will show that transnational marriages are also motivated by the emotional ties of kinship.

The analysis will focus in particular on the Urdu/Panjabi concept of rishta, which conveys ideas about a 'good' match and about emotional connections between people. It will argue that attention to emotional discourse between siblings, between parents and children, and between prospective spouses in the context of marriage arrangements augments the understanding of what is at stake for those involved in transnational marriages. The analysis also complements accounts that emphasize parental exegesis by offering a multi-generational perspective.